COM 0356.006 2010-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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recognizing success; and being flexible /problem solving. These strategies are described in detail in an effort to guide other community- based, self - sufficient DWI program development and implementation efforts. While using common strategies to successfully plan and implement community -level DWI -- related activities, each of these programs has also faced challenges. Many times these challenges have been specific to their communities or States. However, some common challenges were identified across multiple programs. These challenges and their potential solutions are also described in this report. Fresno Police Department Traffic Bureau Executive Summary The Fresno Police Department (FPD) Traffic Bureau operates an aggressive DUI and traffic enforcement program. The consolidated program is comprised of a number of smaller programs designed specifically to reduce the damage, injuries, and fatalities associated with impaired driving. These programs include DUI checkpoint operations, "Bar Watch" operations, saturation patrols by the Neighborhood Traffic Unit (NTU), the Scared Stiff DUI education program, the Help Eliminate Alcohol Reoffends Team (HEART), and the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program . Funding for the traffic bureau is derived from a number of sources including traffic citation revenue, vehicle impound and release fees, and State and Federal grants. In 2008, Fresno's traffic bureau had an operating budget of approximately $9.1 million. Core DUI programming, including sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols, and strategic operations targeting DUI offenders, is 100 percent self - sufficient. Ticket revenues generated by the traffic bureau are allocated to the city's general fund; the traffic bureau receives a significant portion of its funding through the city's general fund. The traffic bureau uses a portion of these funds to support core DUI programming. Self - sufficiently funded DUI programming totals approximately $120,000 per year. This programming is supplemented with grant funding that typically supports additional checkpoint activities. Background Located in California's Central Valley, Fresno is the sixth largest city in the State, with a population of approximately 500,000. Fresno is over 104 square miles in size and has approximately 2,000 miles of paved roadway. Fresno has a highly diverse population with over 88 ethnic backgrounds represented. Census information has identified approximately 70 percent of the city's residents are 19 or older. The median age is 28. Approximately 23 percent of the city's resident live below the poverty line. Data suggest that the number of alcohol- impaired- driving fatalities in California has fluctuated during the past five years, with a spike in 2005 followed by a decline since then. These numbers are fairly constant in their percentage of the overall fatal crashes during that same timeframe, ranging between 27 percent and 30 percent (NHTSA, 2008). The number of alcohol- impaired- driving fatalities in Fresno County, where the city of Fresno is located, has fluctuated as well during this timeframe, also spiking in 2005. The numbers of alcohol- impaired- driving fatalities per 100,000 persons between 2003 and 2007 range from a low of 5.84 in 2006 to 7.39 in 2005, according to NHTSA (2008). In addition to State and county statistics, Fresno maintains detailed collision and DUI - related statistics. In 2002, Fresno reported a total of 484 DUI collisions, of which 33 percent resulted in injuries or fatalities. Over the next five years there was a 5- percent increase in DUI collisions, though there was an approximate 8 percent decline in injuries and fatalities (Fresno Traffic Bureau, 2008b).