| Fresno Combats Drunk and Impaired Drivers to Reduce Fatalities |
The Fresno Police Department started a program to combat drunk and impaired drivers to reduce the number of fatalities resulting from car accidents involving these impaired drivers.
Fresno, California has an area of 101 square miles which is located in California's San Joaquin Valley. With a population quickly approaching a half-million people, Fresno is the fifth largest city in California. Starting in 2002, the Chief of the Fresno Police Department was alarmed with a sudden spike in fatal motor vehicle crashes jumped from a five-year average of 33 to 52. Of those 52, there were also six alcohol related fatal crashes, more than double the prior five-year average.
Since the early 1970s, Fresno, California received no revenue from traffic citations. Instead, most of the revenue from citation fines went to the State of California, with very little partioned off to the various counties. In 2003, this agreement was modified wherein the County of Fresno continued to receive its revenue stream, but money in excess of this amount written by the Fresno Police Department would be paid to the City of Fresno for increased traffic enforcement operations. After increasing Fresno's police force traffic unit from 24 to 44 resulted in more than 62,000 citations, more than two times those issued in the previous year.
With these efforts of the Fresno Police Department, as well as DUI checkpoints and enforcement of seat belt laws, total reported crashes in Fresno, California from 2002 to 2003 reduced by 10.5% from 4,420 to 3,955 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Total injury and fatal crashes also decreased from 1,772 to 1,640, a reduction of 7.4%. Fatal crashes, also decreased from 52 to 46, a substantial decrease showing that the Fresno police's efforts were successful by 11.5%. As for alcohol-related injuries and fatal crashes, they were also reduced 17.4% and 50%, respectively.
Despite these programs, car accidents, motorcycle accidents and fatal crashes continue to occur in Fresno, California. If you, or a loved one, has been injured in a truck accident, a car accident, or a bicycle accident - it is imperative that you get medical treatment and hire a local Fresno accident attorney to immediately begin working for you.
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