HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-18-2016 Item 12 Authorize Funds from the Law Enforcement Grant Fund/Traffic Impound Account to Purchase Equipment related to Traffic Safety Meeting Date: 10/18/2016
FROM: Deanna Cantrell, Chief of Police
Prepared By: Melissa Ellsworth, Senior Administrative Analyst
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE FUNDS FROM THE LAW ENFORCEMENT GRANT
FUND/TRAFFIC IMPOUND ACCOUNT TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT
RELATED TO TRAFFIC SAFETY
RECOMMENDATION
Appropriate $9,470 from available fund balance in the Law Enforcement Grant Fund/Traffic
Impound Account to purchase Lidar units and alcohol detection devices for use by the Police
Department’s Traffic Safety Division.
DISCUSSION
Lidar Units
The Police Department’s Traffic Safety Division is comprised of four motor officers and a
sergeant position. The main duties of the traffic safety program include enforcement of traffic
laws, collision investigations, education programs and coordinating special events.
Hand held LiDAR (light detection and ranging) devices are utilized by police officers to
determine if a target vehicle is exceeding the speed limit. Unlike Radar speed guns, which rely
on doppler shifts to measure speed, LiDAR devices allow a police officer to measure the speed
of an individual vehicle within a stream of traffic. These devices are also used to measure
distances at traffic collisions such as locked wheel skids or any other measurements that the
officer feels are necessary to capture.
LiDAR is used in determining a violator’s speed in over ninety percent of the department’s
issued speeding tickets, which was 562 citations last year. This technology is still the best
available option for law enforcement to use. California State Courts reco gnize the technology
and it is the State wide preferred method in capturing speed violators.
The department’s current LiDARs are over fifteen years old and about half are not able to pass
calibration which is required by the California Vehicle Code if they are to be used for speed
detection. The devices have exceeded their life cycle and the manufacture no longer makes
replacement parts for these older models. Estimated costs for replacement LiDARs is $6,970.
Alcohol Detection Devices
Utilizing a tool in the field to test drinks for the presence of alcohol is useful for the department
to quickly establish whether or not a person is consuming an alcoholic beverage (underage
drinking, drinking alcohol in public). The rapid alcohol detection instruments utilize a platinum
electrochemical fuel cell sensor to detect with accuracy and can be used without direct
participation. The device can test ambient air, open containers or enclosed spaces for the
presence of alcohol. The department would like to purchase three devices to be stored in the
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supervisor vehicles; estimated cost is $2,500.
CONCURRENCES
The Director of Finance and Information Technology concurs with the recommendation.
FISCAL IMPACT
All costs associated with the purchases will come from fees accumulated in the Law
Enforcement Grant Fund/Traffic Impound Account. At the beginning of FY 2016-17, the
approximated balance of this account is $23,000 and is available for use pursuant to the grant
parameters.
This account was established in 2000 as a requirement of the Office of Traffic Safety Grant to
receive fees collected from violators whose vehicles were impounded because they were driving
without a valid license. Pursuant to the grant requirements, these funds must remain separate
from the General Fund and must be used for traffic-related programs. The purchase of the Lidar
devices and alcohol detection devices meets these guidelines. Allocation from the Law
Enforcement Grant Fund/Traffic Impound account requires Council approval.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Do not purchase. This alternative is not recommended; purchasing these units will allow
staff to enhance traffic safety throughout the City and reduce liability exposure utilizing existing
funding available in the Law Enforcement Grant Fund/Traffic Impound Account. Purchasing
alcohol detection devices enables officers to utilize a beneficial tool out in the field to properly
enforce alcohol laws as they relate to the City of San Luis Obispo.
2. Purchase a reduced quantity: Staff does not recommend this alternative as outfitting
every traffic motor officer with a Lidar device increases the department’s ability to enforce speed
and traffic safety control.
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