Willow Glen Resident

News

816 citations given out by police during safe-passage program

By Mayra Flores De Marcotte

The San Jose Police Department's Safe Passage Program ended after a weeklong campaign to calm the traffic at local schools. The program ran Jan. 22-26 throughout Santa Clara County.

The stepped-up patrols resulted in 816 citations being issued, 356 warnings, 49 vehicles impounded and 14 drivers arrested.

According to the police department, the purpose of this operation is to develop safe and long-lasting attitudes among the communities near school zones, four of which are in Willow Glen.

Booksin Elementary, Galarza Elementary Hammer Montessori schools, Presentation and Willow Glen high schools were all part of the program to enforce the rules of the road around schools.

"We want people to realize the school zone and speed limit signs are there for a reason," said San Jose Police Department spokesman Nick Muyo. "We want to make sure our kids get to and from school safely."

Schools involved in the program were chosen randomly or for specific reasons, police officials said. A school can be included following neighbor complaints about the traffic or because an officer who patrols the area selects it.

Enforcement efforts focused on parents transporting their children to school, commuters and children walking and riding their bicycles to school.

Police officers concentrated on speeders, jaywalkers, drivers failing to stop for school buses that displayed flashing red lights, and bicyclists without the proper safety gear on.

In addition to the patrol teams, three radar-display trailers belonging to the city's department of transportation were assigned to the traffic enforcement unit. These trailers, which show the required speed limit and how fast a driver is going, were used at various schools throughout the county.

The program is used three times a year during the spring, fall and winter.