The Santa Monica Police Department’s Office of Special Enforcement’s Traffic Division is divided into three Sections: the Traffic Section, which includes the Motorcycle Enforcement Unit, the Traffic Collision Investigations Unit, and the Commercial Enforcement Unit, the Parking Control Section, and the Crossing Guard Section.

Every 32 minutes, someone in America dies in an impaired driving crash. Impaired driving is no "accident"...drive safely this Fourth of July weekend. Learn more about the dangers of impaired driving and the Santa Monica Police Department's participation in the You Drink & Drive, You Lose, national mobilization.

The Traffic Section’s Motorcycle Enforcement Unit was first established in 1912. The Unit is managed by a lieutenant and sergeant, both of whom actively ride with the Unit’s officers. There are currently eight officers assigned motorcycle enforcement duties. The efforts of these officers are supplemented by a team of sergeants and officers who engage in motorcycle enforcement activities on a collateral-duty basis.

The Traffic Collision Investigations Unit is responsible for investigating traffic collisions involving injuries, fatalities, and charges of driving under the influence. When he is not investigating traffic collisions, Inv. C. Dawson is one of two plain-clothes officers who participate in the Pedestrian Decoy Operations. Officer Dawson, and his partner, cross various non-signal controlled streets having either a marked or unmarked crosswalk in an effort to bring pedestrian right-of-way laws to the attention of motorists.

The Parking Control Section works to ensure the availability of parking to visitors and residents of Santa Monica. The Section consists of twenty-one Parking Checkers and two supervisors.

The Crossing Guard Section is responsible for ensuring the safe crossing of elementary school children at ten of the City’s area schools. The Section consists of a Crossing Guard Supervisor, a Lead Crossing Guard, and 35 Crossing Guards.

Each year, the Crossing Guards vote on the Crossing Guard of the Year. For 1999, the winner was MaryAnn Lucero. Ms. Lucero (2nd from the left) was presented her award by (from left to right) Traffic Division Commander, Lieutenant Jacqueline Seabrooks, Kathy Lucero (Lead Crossing Guard, and Ms. Lucero’s mom!), and Crossing Guard Supervisor, Jeff Walton.

This page was last modified on 01/26/2008