Traffic Enforcement Unit

The Traffic Bureau is managed by a police lieutenant and supervised by a police sergeant who is responsible for supervising the sworn and civilian personnel which comprise the Traffic Bureau.  The traffic unit is compromised of eight traffic officers, one DUI (Driving under the influence) enforcement officer, one commercial enforcement officer, one traffic detective, and one civilian traffic analyst.

The traffic unit’s primary purpose is the reduction of traffic collisions on the streets of Rancho Cordova. This is a large responsibility, especially considering that many more people are killed or injured in traffic collisions than in violent crimes. This mission is accomplished through three processes. The traffic unit is active in providing education to our community through presentations and written materials. Secondly, the traffic unit works closely with the City’s Traffic Engineering Department to identify any safety concerns in regard to the roadways/or traffic control devices.

Lastly, the traffic unit addresses driving conduct through comprehensive enforcement of the California Vehicle Code, (ie.. direct patrol and traffic operations). Another responsibility of the traffic unit is to investigate serious collisions and determine the cause based upon statements and evidence.

The traffic unit’s make-up is comprised of two main components – Enforcement and Safety. Officers riding police motorcycles and the dedicated driving under the influence officer staff the Enforcement component of the unit. The commercial enforcement officer and parking regulation officers comprise the safety component of the unit.

One traffic analyst and towing coordinator assist citizens with education regarding their driver’s licenses and vehicle registration requirements. The towing coordinator also assists those who have had their vehicles impounded with recovering their vehicles.

Driving under the influence (DUI) is still a major concern and focus of not only the traffic unit, but of the entire police department. The Rancho Cordova Police Department has been active in obtaining grant funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety for driving under the influence enforcement and educational campaigns. A recent grant provided a full time DUI enforcement officer and funding for sobriety checkpoints and DUI task force operations. Currently, The Rancho Cordova Police Department has partnered with Mercy San Juan Hospital to provide multi-lingual child seat and occupant restraint training to our local communities where English is not a first language. A component of this grant also funds increased driving under the influence enforcement operations. The Rancho Cordova Police Department is proud to be a member of the “AVOID the Capital 15” driving under the influence campaign. This grant focuses on DUI enforcement through out Sacramento County, with saturation patrols and checkpoints. Combined, these programs have been very successful in collision reduction and impaired driving arrests.

Through innovative educational efforts and enforcement of the traffic laws, the Rancho Cordova Police Department remains dedicated to the safety of those who may utilize the highways of our community.