Cops Step Up Traffic Enforcement
OJAI POLICE DEPARTMENT
MEDIA RELEASE
Nature of Incident: Increased Traffic Enforcement
Location: Areas around Ojai Valley Schools
Date & Time: Beginning August 24, 2010
Unit Responsible: Ojai Valley Station Traffic
With the new school year upon us, we wish for it to begin safely for the children as they find their way to and from their schools. The Ojai Police Department will be patrolling the areas around the schools and enforcing violations observed.
Many of the children will be finding their way to school on their bicycles. We wish to have the drivers make a conscious effort to be attentive to this fact. Parents of the children riding bicycles must make every effort to ensure their child’s safety as well.
It is required by law that all children under the age of 18 wear a safety helmet while riding. It is also required that bicycle riders ride with the direction of traffic, not against it. We have observed many bicyclists not stopping at intersections as required and riding on the sidewalks along Ojai Avenue where it is prohibited by Ojai city ordinance.
Many of the violations that have been observed / enforced are listed below:
- Speeding in the school area when students are present. The speed limit in a “SCHOOL ZONE” is 25 mph unless other wise posted.
- Passing school buses when red lights are flashing and stop signs are displayed. This is required for drivers on both sides of a roadway, unless there are more than one lane in each direction and a median separating the traffic lanes.
- Failing to yield the right of way to pedestrians within a crosswalk. It is also the responsibility of the pedestrians to remain in a location until it is safe to enter the crosswalk.
- Drivers parking / stopping in areas where it is prohibited by posted signs. This is a large problem on El Paseo, in the area of Matilija Junior High School and Ojai Valley School.
- Failing to stop for stop signs or red traffic signals and pedestrian control signals.
- Talking on the phone while driving. Adult drivers, 18 yrs and older, are required to use a hands free device. Drivers under the age of 18 cannot use any cellular phone devices. Texting while driving is also prohibited.
The members of the Ojai Police Department wish to make an effort to educate the community members of the various laws and violations that are frequently violated and place drivers and pedestrians at risk. Therefore, we will be out patrolling the areas around the schools and will be enforcing the laws and citing violators to maintain safety for everyone at this time of year.
Safety for the children is everyone’s responsibility. Don’t get caught up in the high-speed daily activities and fail to see the children on their way to school. We can all do our part to become part of the solution, rather than part of the problem. Drive and ride safely.
Officer Preparing Release: Senior Deputy Jim Popp
Approved By: Sergeant J.P.Ruby #1852
SHUT UP OR GET THE HELL OUT,
I couldn’t agree with you more! Ojai is being taken over by L.A. weekend warriors in the East End, and stoners, tweekers, alcoholics, gangbangers, and government employees everywhere else.
Thank you for your enlightening comment!
Anon.5
Truth Coalition
This thread is great, people who can’t wait to be outraged about a ticket they haven’t received yet, and basically concede that they drive like jerks.
How hard is it to obey traffic laws? Just stay off your cell, don’t speed, use your signal, be considerate in general. If you get a ticket in the Ojai Valley, you deserve it.
Here is a thought… Follow the law and don’t get pulled over…its really not that hard… and all you people are ridiculous… every single blog on this site no matter the subject of the article… is turned into talk about hippies, stoners, added revenue, and OSL… seriously you all need to just shut up! It frustrates the hell out of me when I read what a handful of residents in the town I call my home… and want to raise my family in… do nothing but complain about things that happen in EVERY town big or small… if you don’t like Ojai, or any aspect of it (because that is all I see on here when I read) get the HELL OUT and let the people who enjoy it do so without having to see their town be slandered by people who don’t care and or don’t have a life!
I do not smoke pot… therefore I am not a Stoner
I do not do meth… therefore I am not a Tweeker
I do not drink to excess… therefore I am not an Alcoholic
I am not affiliated with any gang…therefore I am not a Gang Banger
I am not employed by the Gov, State, or City… therefore I do not sit around and figure out ways to make people pay more money so I benefit
I have just listed the 5 categories you all seem to associate every citizen of Ojai to…
I am however an Adult who was born at OVH, went to Miners Oaks Elementary, Matilija Middle School, Nordhoff High School, played at Libby Park… and I have not fallen into any group any of you describe every day here on this blog… I am successful and happy and when people ask me why I have such a love for everything around me… I tell them they should spend some time in my home town… the people there are great everyone is nice to each other and cares… but all of you make me a liar… and when they read this blog and say that Ojai doesn’t seem to be what I explained… I tell them that the people that spend all day on this blog have no life but their computer… and comment on issues they have no clue about.
SO IN SHORT… IF YOU DON’T LIKE OJAI… GET OUT… YOU MAKE US MISERABLE!!!
Increased traffic enforcement is fine. How about increased attention to that elephant in the room (aka drug and gang problem)?
OMG..”Ms” Sensitivity is now in this post room stoned and rambling!!!
Geesshhh…the hippie movement ended decades ago!!
Aaliyah… Yes!… Thank you Suzy for your wonderful insight! For decades we have endured the anarchy of the constrictive element and view point of might makes right…You are so correct in informing and pointing out the true concerns in regards to our children s safety does take a village to see to their development and subsequent change of mindset from the old repressive patterns of the past such as loyalty to an extinct dogma based on a religious superstition…Our Children need to embrace the true ideal of the present and the true sustainable codes and laws that will soon be in place. Then they will have a glorious present and future to share in cohabitation for all of mankind…I believe demographic change is in order, Suza should be our district representative for the Ojai Valley, Many on the School Board and City Counsel have shown interest in this once our country is finally on the right track! I hope all of you will embrace this new and wonderful era of PEACE! Peace and Love…
Illegal aliens are treated differently than citizens.
They cannot be “arrested” or “detained” because of their
“immigration status.” The rest of us get a ticket.
For information on participating in the first Matilija Junior High bike safety training on Monday, August 23, please e-mail kelly@project-ride.com, or Sfrancina@aol.com. Junior high or high school age students attending other schools on or beyond the planned route are welcome to attend.
http://www.ojaipost.com/2010/08/biking-to-matilija-junior-high-and-other-ojai-schools/
(This editorial published in the Ojai Valley News, “Training key to bike safety,” (8/18/2010).
THANK YOU! Excellent article!
G.R.
Riiiggghhhhtttttt.
Amy section in the vehicle code violated is an offense period. The determination is whether it’s an: infraction, mesdemeanor or felony.
Class over.
A “NON OFFENSE” violation is a legal term/ fix it ticket or parking ticket. Non moving violation
Is it true illegals are waved on through?
I really would like to know what a “non offense” is, and how “it” can be ticketed??!!!
Ojai is a training station…why I don’t know, it’s too small. But…one Anon person writes he/she sees people being stopped and ticketed for all these “non offenses” and thinks it’s terrible. And..then there is the revenue generated part. I like that too. The state of California takes the fast majority of any fine associated with any ticket given out with exception of tickets written for offenses that are covered by city or county codes.
I would like to see Sr. Dep Popp add some kind of addendum to this story concerning the actual number of citations given out, and the offenses so cited. Maybe that will wake up drivers/bike riders that the vehicle code, and it’s applicable sections are there for a reason.
Sorry Anonymous,
I agree also If enforcing laws that are designed to aid and enshure safty is fascist, I’m all for it. I’m sick of people with this entitlement attitude that think they can do as they are please.Actually this is what true Fascist’s do,as long as they “FEEL” they can get away with it.Also they have a tendancy to make up the rules as they go as long as it serves their purpose. But I’m from a time were people had pride in themselves and how they respected others and the law. The only time I have seen this in the last 25 years was a 3 week period after 9/11,most people conducted themselves with dignaty and honor, not selfish childeren. If this makes me a fascist to live by these standards based in honor, then I’m proud of it. Thank you Senior Deputy Jim Popp,your a man of honor and that you for your service to our community I salute you sir.
The only purpose of all this is to generate additional revenue. Please… “public safety”? Give me a break.
When I first moved here 5 years ago I thought for sure this was a high crime city for all the police constantly roaming up and down the streets. And frankly they can be a pain in the @ss giving tickets for the slightest non offenses that I hear from others around here. I lived in Hollywood most of my life and never saw as many cops as I see here. Why is that?
True Guy – Well you are the only one besides me that thinks this was a good thing. Why would we not what the help of the police to keep our children safe.
Excellent article. High five to Sr. Dep Popp for listing the various vehicle codes that are constantly ignored and violated around town. This is something that is needed to “remind” drivers and bike riders there are laws pertaining to both!
Now…I hope the OVN puts this on their front page, and…I hope to see drivers violating these laws stopped and ticketed. There are far too many violations of these important laws all over the Ojai Valley.
The listing of right of way: pedestrian must yield right of way even entering a crosswalk when traffic is so close as to be a hazard. This section of the vehicle code alone is violated hundreds of times a day especially in the “downtown” section of Ojai. And…the same right of way pertaining to cars is rampant!! I guess a serious crash is going to have to happen before people start to realize that one does NOT pull in front of oncoming traffic because they are in too much of a hurry to wait for the traffic to clear.
Again: excellent article, good job Sr. Dep Popp!!
I’m all for closing the public schools. They’re completely useless.
MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! While were at it lets set op the Fascists drivers lisence check point again.
At least we want have to stop for those stupid yellow buses since the school district is eliminating the bussing of children.
Now we just have to get the district to close all the schools so we don’t have to slow to 25 mph.
Let’s hope that deputies follow through on enforcing the no cell phone-use law for once.