School and Neighborhood Enforcement
The San José Police Department’s Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) addresses chronic problems in neighborhoods – specifically those that involve streets that are used as “cut-throughs” (streets that commuters use to avoid major arterials), and those that have an excessive traffic flow based on the location of schools within neighborhoods. These chronic problems affect our citizens and students that live and attend school on these streets and are seeking some relief from the heavy flow of traffic and excessive speed.
In 1986, San José had approximately 733,000 residents; we now have approximately one million. In 1986, the TEU was staffed with more officers than it is currently. The city of San Jose has nearly 2,300 miles of roadways and over 16,000 intersections; additionally, we have approximately 225 schools within our jurisdiction. We currently have thirty-six officers devoted to enforcing traffic complaints for the nation’s 10th largest city.
Due to the shortage of staffing resources, the TEU rotates these areas based on the number of complaints we receive, and the danger that the condition creates for the residents and the schools. It is a complaint, priority based effort, the TEU conducts rotating enforcement in these zones on a quarterly basis. Click here to view the current top 6 locations that the TEU is currently working.
Due to the aforementioned staffing issues, we must balance our enforcement efforts at the highest crash locations with those of the chronic neighborhood and school nuisances. Some of the issues with schools can be dealt with through our tri-annual Operation Safe Passage program, while others need more immediate attention. These operations are meant to give service to those areas where traffic flow is causing a severe impact on the quality of life and safety of our citizens.
HOW DOES SCHOOL AND NEIGHBORHOOD ENFORCEMENT WORK?
If your neighborhood or school is determined to be eligible for the TEU’s assistance, we will need your help. An enforcement team sergeant will ask for a volunteer from your neighborhood or school who will be appointed as a “captain.” This “captain” will have an active role in assisting us with the traffic enforcement problem.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Volunteer! Neighborhood and school “captains” will work with an enforcement team’s sergeant (through email and phone contacts) to provide vital feedback and input regarding the manner in which the enforcement is being administered, and its effectiveness. The “captain” will be asked to provide the TEU with a list of co-complainants' email addresses so that, at the conclusion of their enforcement efforts, we can send you and your neighbors an on-line satisfaction survey.
It is of vital importance that we receive your feedback regarding the effectiveness of our efforts. By completing our survey, you will help us to gauge the effectiveness of our enforcement strategies. This information will enable us to adjust our future responses to chronic traffic problems in other neighborhoods.