THE VINEWOOD TRAFFIC DIVISION

The Newsroom contains all press releases of the Los Santos Police Department.
Post Reply
User avatar
LSPD Media Relations
Posts: 371
Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2020 7:53 pm
ECRP Forum Name:

THE VINEWOOD TRAFFIC DIVISION

Post by LSPD Media Relations »

Image
lspdlogo

WWW.LSPDONLINE.NET
Los Santos Police Department
Press Release; The Vinewood Traffic Division
Sunday, August 7th, 2022
"TO PROTECT AND SERVE"

  • vtdlogo
    VINEWOOD TRAFFIC DIVISION

    ABOUT THE DIVISION
    The Vinewood Traffic Division is a division within LSPD's General Operations Bureau, led by its Commanding Officer, Police Sergeant Max Draco. Divisional duties consist of various traffic enforcement, ensuring citizens are following the traffic laws and preserving safety as the number one priority, as well as deploying advanced tactics to end dangerous pursuits and assisting with other traffic-related operations.

    The Vinewood Traffic Division was created in a department-wide reshuffle in December 2020. The Traffic Enforcement Division or as it was more commonly known TED was merged with the Vinewood Precinct to form what is now the Vinewood Traffic Division. It was commanded by former Police Captain Steve Smyth, now of the Sheriffs Department before he passed the division on to former Police Lieutenant Joshy Thompson, before Sergeant Max Draco became the latest Commanding Officer in the Summer of 2022.

    MISSION STATEMENT
    The Vinewood Traffic Division is the backbone of the Los Santos Police Department's traffic enforcement duties, providing a stable and effective traffic enforcement within the City of Los Santos, its highways, and unincorporated areas. Vinewood Traffic Division trains its officers to distinguish the traffic law, proficient driving skills for pursuit interceptions, detailed investigations of motor vehicle accidents, vehicle escorts, surveillance, routine and DUI checkpoints on the county highway, as well as providing educational and motivational group sessions for the occupants of the traffic itself.
    Source: VTD division handbook, 1.1.1
    Image

    TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT EQUIPMENT
    The Vinewood Traffic Division has access to various vehicles and equipment for use during their patrols and to facilitate the excellent traffic enforcement the division is based upon.

    Every Traffic Officer has access to a kit of equipment and tools, always prepared in their cruiser for use by officers when apprehending and dealing with negligent drivers on a daily basis. Some of these items include, but are not limited to:
    • A radar gun for use in speed traps.
    • Vehicular Accident Apparatus such as digital cameras, evidence markers and reel measuring tape.
    • Spike strips for disabling speeding vehicles.
    • Reflective traffic vest, for safety while conducting traffic-related duties.
    • Traffic batons for use when redirecting traffic following accidents and other road closures, or in conjunction with regular scene management in low visibility conditions.
    • Breathalysers to determine a person's Blood Alcohol Content (BAC), in conjunction with other field sobriety tests.
    TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES
    Besides the standard police cruisers available to all officers, VTD's vehicle fleet also consists of marked Traffic Enforcement Scouts, Police motorcycles; Traffic Enforcement Drafters as well as Police Kamachos. Some of these vehicles have been commissioned specifically for use by the Vinewood Traffic Division.



    TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT DUTIES AND TRAINING
    Apart from regular patrol duties, the Vinewood Traffic Division specialises in various forms of traffic enforcement to combat the rising risks of vehicular accidents caused by speeding, negligent drivers, DUI, and other various traffic law violations.

    To enforce the traffic laws and road regulations, VTD enforces a 'zero tolerance-policy'. This policy, while it affects everyone stopped by a VTD traffic officer, is largely intended to target repeat offenders by discouraging violative behaviour with monetary penalties in addition to the possibility of license demerits and suspensions, and worst case scenario, jail time. The hope is that, while they may seem unfairly targeted by officers, honest drivers won't take offence to the rare citation they receive, with traffic officers citing these as an important tool for education in safe driving practices.

    The Vinewood Traffic Division also facilitates various operations throughout the city, as well as training sessions for its officers. The operations, such as speed traps and traffic checkpoints, can be set up to focus on a specific group of traffic violators, either looking to remove the negligent drivers from the streets by suspending their license or temporarily jailing them, or by checking every vehicle driver is in possession of a valid license for their vehicle and not driving while under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. A unit can also be placed on static patrol to pre-emptively lower the possibility of violations in a specific area, hoping to bring down the risks of vehicular accidents.

    Training sessions allow traffic officers to practice various advanced pursuit tactics for use in pursuits where units need to bring a suspect vehicle to a stop immediately to ensure the safety of all drivers in the pursuit and the nearby areas, either by deploying specialised vehicles depending on the situation or by utilising advanced tactics as a group to stop and apprehend the evading suspects.

    COMMANDING OFFICER QUOTE
    The LSPD Media Relations team approached the Commanding Officer of the Vinewood Traffic Division, Police Sergeant Max Draco for some words on the division and he offered this response;
    The Vinewood Traffic Division is the core of the LSPD's traffic enforcement duties. Despite remaining under a General Operations Bureau status, VTD make an emphasis on ensuring that there is stable and effective traffic enforcement within the city, the highways and unincorporated areas.

    Within VTD, we provide our officers with the correct specialized training to give them the tools they need to be able to fulfil their traffic-related duties.

    Although in VTD, we have our own duties to look after, we actively look to continue to contribute and support the General Operations Bureau to no lesser extent that other divisions which fall under it, whatever this may involve.
    ADDITIONAL THANKS
    Police Officer II Ace Butoslav for providing some of the photos used in this press release.
    Deputy Chief Dezzy Bala for minor amendments.
CONTACT INFORMATION
  • Written By:
    Police Officer III Thomas Pennyworth
    Media Relations Officer, Media Relations Division
    [email protected]

    For Further Information, Contact:
    Media Relations Division Public Inquiries
    Los Santos Police Department
    Sinner Street 69, Mission Row
    Los Santos, SA, 90013
Image
mrdstamp
MEDIA RELATIONS DIVISION
Administrative Services Bureau
Los Santos Police Department — "To Protect and to Serve"

Account is not monitored. For information, consult the Public Affairs area.
Post Reply

Return to “Newsroom”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests