Overview

The objective of the Traffic Division is to help reduce traffic crashes and injuries while facilitating the safe and expeditious flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic through voluntary public compliance of traffic laws. The objective is accomplished with a blend of strategic planning, education, and enforcement. This approach, coupled with innovative programs, has allowed the Traffic Division to make a major contribution in the area of enforcement for the cause of highway safety. Dedication to safe pedestrian travel, the prevention of drunk driving and underage drinking, truck inspection, and the use of seatbelts and properly fitted child safety seats has led to safer roads, decreased DUI crashes, and the removal of dangerous trucks and drivers from our roadways.

Programs

DUI AND UNDERAGE DRINKING PROGRAMS – The Traffic Division serves as the catalyst for the department’s zero tolerance of DUI and underage drinking. This is built on the simple premise that alcohol and driving don’t mix. Taking a proactive approach to DUI enforcement, the department promotes the training of officers, education of the general public, direct enforcement, and the deterrence of future offenders. In 2001, we again held numerous programs designed to reduce underage drinking and alcohol related crashes. The division assisted with the formation of a mock crash at a local high school, coordinating police, fire, EMS, and MedEvac near the time of prom, in order to help make students aware of the dangers of driving under the influence and to reduce the risk of injury or death by teens driving unsafely. The “Cops in Shops” program—where officers work with retailers, in plain clothes, behind the counter of establishments that serve alcohol—was utilized as a mechanism by which area retailers could join with city government and local college administrators in combating underage drinking and driving. As a result of the educational and innovative programs coupled with regular Sobriety Checkpoints, DUI Roving Patrols, and Mobile Awareness Operations, alcohol related crashes decreased 38% over three years.

OPERATION ABC – AMERICA BUCKLES UP CHILDREN - In conjunction with the Bethlehem Health Bureau, Traffic Officers conducted occupant restraint programs including “Operation ABC” at various Day Care centers and on selected trafficways throughout the city. 100% of the child car seats checked had been incorrectly installed. Numerous parents were taught proper seatbelt and child car seat safety. During 2001, 3,500 driver restraint systems were checked at Seat Belt Check Points throughout the city and the findings revealed a 71% use rate.

CITIZEN TRAFFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CTAC) – The Traffic Lieutenant meets monthly with committee members comprised of: the general public; business owners; disabled pedestrians; a local bicycle coalition; and a representative from the Pa Department of Transportation. Hazardous pedestrian crossings, dangerous roadways, and access issues are discussed with the committee. Problem-solving strategies are considered and the Traffic Lieutenant then meets with Public Works, City Engineers and officials from DOT in an attempt to help improve the selected areas. When implemented, this led to a direct reduction of both fatal crashes and pedestrian involved crashes. The Traffic Lieutenant reviews all plans to assure enforcement of and compliance with Pa Title 67, 75, and the Americans with Disability Act for new construction projects and discusses the projects with CTAC for comments on pedestrian thoroughfares and roadway accesses.

TRUCK SAFETY BLITZES – The City of Bethlehem encompasses approximately 20 square miles and serves I-78, SR378, SR22, SR412, SR512, and SR191, as well as several large industrial parks. This creates a high-volume of large-truck and tractor-trailer traffic through our city. Addressing concerns of highway safety involving these large trucks, the Traffic Division developed and implemented a plan to have officers trained and certified in weights and measures, vehicle inspections, and the North American Standard Level 1 truck inspections. Working in conjunction with the Pennsylvania DOT Motor Carrier Enforcement Unit, traffic officers during the year 2001 conducted 19 truck enforcement blitzes in which 232 trucks were inspected. This resulted in the removal of 18 unsafe trucks and 11 drivers from our highways.

SPECIAL EVENTS - Annually, the City is host to one of the nation’s largest beer and music festivals, drawing approximately 1 million people to the event over an 11-day period. Throughout the year, the Traffic Lieutenant attends meetings with Musikfest and City Administrators, assuring adequate measures are provided for pedestrian travel, road closures, trolley transportation, and related traffic safety issues. The size of this event requires intensive planning and organization. The set up and operation of the event, as well as other large festivals, parades, and sporting events are supervised by the Traffic Division, assuring enforcement and the proper application of traffic laws.

Structure

The Traffic Bureau is staffed with (7) members: (1) Captain, (1) Lieutenant, (3) Motorcycle Officers, (1) Abandoned Vehicle/ Hit-Run Officer, and (1) School Safety Officer. The (5) Traffic Officers are responsible for 25% of all traffic citations issued by the entire 144-man department. Members of the Traffic Division have received Highway Safety Awards from the Governor of Pennsylvania for their dedication to traffic duties.

Captain - The Traffic Captain is the unit commander and oversees the entire operation of the Traffic Bureau. His command also includes all operations in the Department’s Communications and 911 Center which is staffed by (17) full time civilian employees, and (10) part time civilian employees.

Lieutenant - The Traffic Lieutenant is the direct supervisor of the officers in the unit and is responsible for scheduling and distributing daily assignments; reviewing all traffic crash reports; and detecting problem areas that require further study, education, or enforcement to make an area safer for motorists and pedestrians. The Lieutenant responds to and provides guidance to officers who are investigating serious or fatal crashes. Researching and writing grants that may come from DOT or the Federal Bureau of Highway Administration is also an important portion of the job. Such grants are aimed at reducing DUI, underage drinking, aggressive driving, speeding, and the crashes that result from such behavior. In order to facilitate traffic and pedestrian related concerns, the Lieutenant meets with various state agencies and coordinates the efforts of the departments within the city. The Lieutenant also oversees the scheduling, operation, and billing of the City’s 10 contracted tow operators.

Motorcycle Officers - Safe and effective use of the police motorcycle requires our Motorcycle Officers to be trained and certified through rigorous maneuvers and obstacle courses. One of our officers is a Certified Police Motorcycle Training Instructor and is responsible for testing the skills of the officers. Motorcycle officers, nicknamed “Motormen,” are also certified in a variety of Traffic related techniques including: speed timing devices; DUI testing; truck weights and measures; child safety seats; crash investigations; as well as being educated on current traffic laws. The officers provide escorts for funerals, oversized truck loads, parades, for state and foreign dignitaries, and also assist in school safety assignments. They respond to emergencies such as traffic crashes, fires, medical emergencies, and other disasters to assist in securing the area and providing traffic control. When traffic related problem areas are brought to the Department’s attention through citizen complaints, these officers are called upon to enforce and to educate the public regarding specific violations.

Abandoned Vehicle/ Hit-Run Officer - This officer maintains a rigorous daily schedule investigating the large number of abandoned vehicle violations and crashes involving hit-and-run drivers. During a typical year, the officer responds to over 900 reports of disabled vehicles left abandoned in city. Approximately 500 of these vehicles are removed by the owners after being contacted by the officer, and the remaining 400 vehicles are towed away by state licensed salvors at the officer’s direction when they are on city streets. The City’s Zoning Office assists with the removal when the vehicles are on private property. Additionally, the officer typically investigates over 400 hit-and-run crashes annually and helps protect the rights and property of individuals who are affected by hit-and-run violators. His investigations result in 35% of the hit-and-run crashes being solved.

School Safety Officer - The Traffic Bureau’s School Safety Officer supervises up to 50 school crossing guards that serve 4 middle schools and 15 elementary schools. He interviews, hires, and trains the guards, as well as prepares the yearly budget. The School Safety Officer participates in “Operation Safeguard” which fingerprints pre-kindergarten children. Other duties include Bicycle Registration and the processing of more than 1700 vehicle faulty equipment notices that are generated annually by the entire Department.

Vehicles and Equipment

The Traffic Bureau utilizes the traditional marked and unmarked police cars. A marked Chevy Tahoe is equipped with a special crash investigation kit, which is brought to the scene of serious traffic crashes. The kit contains certified measuring devices, evidence markers, a drag sled—which is used in the determination of speed—and other items necessary for documenting and collecting critical evidence at a crash scene. Serious crash scenes are also photographed using a digital camera and a video camera from one of the (3) patrol vehicles that are equipped with video cameras. Video cameras are also utilized at DUI checkpoints and during DUI roving patrol assignments. The Community Service’s Mobile Substation at DUI check points to serve as a base of operations.

The most distinctive vehicles of the Traffic Bureau are the police motorcycles. The Bethlehem Police Department has (6) Harley-Davidson FLH police motorcycles equipped with emergency strobe lights, siren, and public address loud speakers. These motorcycles are used year round depending on weather conditions such as ice or snow. Their size and maneuverability make them very effective in responding to emergencies during heavy traffic conditions. The motorcycles are put up for auction at the end of their service careers, which is typically 6 years. Information on purchasing a used police motorcycle can be obtained by calling the City of Bethlehem at 610-865-7187.

The motorcycle officers make use of electronic speed timing devices called “Acutrac.” Another type of speed timing device, “Vascar” units are mounted in certain patrol vehicles and are used to assist the Traffic Bureau in selective traffic enforcement assignments. The devices calculate the speed of vehicles by processing the amount of time the vehicle takes to travel through a pre-measured area of roadway. All speed timing devices used by the Department are certified for accuracy every 60 days or less. A speed display board is also utilized to allow motorists to view their speed on a large display screen as they pass by the device. This is typically used as an educational, traffic calming measure at school zones and areas of high pedestrian passage.

Portable Breath Testers ( PBT ) are used for DUI enforcement to determine an alcohol impaired motorists level of intoxication. The PBT test along with the officer’s observations and a Standardized Field Sobriety Test ( SFST ) help to determine the basis for an arrest forDUI and subsequent blood test.

Know Your Traffic Laws.

Drive Safe.