By Jorge Casuso
September 25, 2026 – The Police Department will conduct traffic safety operations today as the City heightens its efforts to protect pedestrians and bicyclists from dangerous driving behaviors.
The operation, which will take place from 5 a.m. To 8 p.m., comes as police patrol and traffic officers have been handing out more tickets and the City Council recently approval red light cameras.
The ordinance approved on September 8 establishes and authorizes the City’s use of Automated Traffic Enforcement Systems (ATES) for red-light violations starting with two intersections, while giving the Council authority to add them at additional locations.
"Red-light running is a significant contributing factor in severe right-angle and turning collisions at signalized intersections," police officials said ("City Poised to Install Red-Light Cameras," September 3, 2026) .
Traffic officers conducting today's operations will be on the lookout for violations that include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield or provide right of way to bicyclists or pedestrians, or failing to stop for signs and signals.
The operation comes as the department has been focused on traffic violations that result in Fatal and Severe Injury (FSI) crashes after they reached a record total of 112 incidents in 2024 and 2025.
The most recent fatality took place on September 3 when a vehicle slowing down to 2 to 3 mph as it approached a crosswalk struck an elderly pedestrian. The pedestrian died at the hospital from injuries sustained when she lost her balance and fell, according to police.
During the first week of August SMPD officers made 330 traffic stops, issued 221 citations and gave 102 advisals, unusually high numbers without conducting a traffic safety operation.
"Traffic enforcement remained a visible component of patrol activity, with particular attention given to the Wilshire, Lincoln, Broadway, and Colorado corridors," police officials reported in the department's weekly blog "The Blue Notebook."
Patrol watches reported a combined 200 traffic stops and 113 citations. Patrol personnel also partnered with the Traffic Enforcement Section "to address pedestrian safety at crosswalks and community concerns along Colorado Avenue and Broadway in addition to near Yale Street and Colorado Avenue," officials said.