The Alameda Police Department Traffic Section strives to keep our community’s roadways safe for all motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. The Traffic Section provides daily traffic enforcement of the roadways within the City of Alameda and is responsible for investigating all serious injury and fatal collisions. When available, the Traffic Section will investigate reported collisions that occurred within Alameda.
The Traffic Section participates in a variety of programs designed to make our roadways safer. Among them are Avoid the 21, Click It or Ticket, DUI Saturation Patrols, and DUI/DL Checkpoints. The Traffic Section is also responsible for managing Special Events, Taxi Operations, the Crossing Guard program, the School Safety program, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (Truck Route Map below), Driver Awareness, DUI programs, and the deployment of traffic-related resources.
Currently, the Traffic Section consists of one Lieutenant, one Sergeant, five Collision Investigators, three Motor Officers, five Parking Technicians, and one Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Technician. For more information, contact the Alameda Police Department Traffic Section at 510-337-8586.
TOWED VEHICLE INFORMATION
Police Officers and Parking Technicians routinely tow vehicles for a number of different reasons. Examples of why a vehicle may be towed include:
· Driver has either no drivers license or a suspended drivers license
· A vehicle sustains major damage as a result of a collision
· The vehicle is blocking a driveway
· A vehicle is a hazard in a roadway
· Registration on the vehicle is expired over six months
· The vehicle has more than five unpaid parking citations
· A vehicle is left parked in the roadway during restricted times
The Alameda Police Department contracts with Ken Betts Towing in Oakland, California. If you are the owner of a vehicle towed by Ken Betts Towing and you wish to claim it, you will have to take the following steps:
1. The vehicles registered owner(s) must have a valid drivers license
2. The vehicle must have valid insurance
3. The vehicles registration must be current
If your vehicle has expired registration, all fees must be paid to DMV before a vehicle release can be issued.
Once these requirements have been met, you will then have to pay a $125 release fee at the Alameda Police Department. After receiving your vehicle release the tow company is permitted to release your vehicle after being paid their towing and storage fees. Ken Betts Towing charges $150 for the initial tow and $55 per day for storage. There may be additional fees if your vehicle requires indoor storage or if you claim you vehicle after 5pm or on a weekend.
If your vehicle was impounded for 30 days because the driver has a suspended/revoked driver’s license (or was never issued a drivers license) and you wish to get it out before the 30 days has passed: You can come to the Alameda Police Department on Tuesdays and Thursdays (excluding holidays) at 2:00pm for a tow hearing. This is a first come – first served appointment. You will meet with the hearing officer and discuss options. To be eligible for early release, all steps noted above must be met.
CAR SEAT SAFETY CHECKS
The California Vehicle Code section 27360(a) states that a parent, legal guardian, or driver shall not transport on a highway in a motor vehicle, a child or ward who is under eight years of age, without properly securing that child in a rear seat in an appropriate child passenger restraint system meeting applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards.
Did you know 80% of children’s car seats are not installed correctly? Car crashes are the #1 killer of children. Don’t put your child at risk. Come to a free car seat check up and have our trained officers and technicians teach you how to ensure that your child rides safely.
The Alameda Police Department offers FREE car seat inspections and installations. For more information, or to schedule an inspection/installation, call police volunteer Bob Rollins at (510) 337-8590 and leave a message so he can return your call and schedule an appointment.
Important Traffic Section Documents-
