Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Allison Binder 949-724-6226

IRVINE CITY COUNCILMEMBER MELISSA FOX DETAILS RESULTS OF MEETING ON TRAFFIC SAFETY WITH IRVINE POLICE CHIEF MIKE HAMEL AND ANNOUNCES TRAFFIC SAFETY TOWN HALL 

Irvine, CA (December 12, 2019) – On Monday, December 10, 2018, Irvine City Councilmember Melissa Fox met with Irvine Police Department (IPD) Chief Mike Hamel to discuss ways to improve stop sign compliance and overall traffic safety in Irvine.  Councilmember Fox also announced a Town Hall Meeting on Traffic Safety to be held on Saturday, January 26, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. at Woodbury Community Park.

“Chief Hamel and I take this issue very seriously,” Councilmember Fox said. “We hear residents’ concerns and are committed to improving traffic safety across the city.”

In addition to Councilmember Fox and Chief Hamel, IPD officers Lt. Kyle Turner and Sgt. Tom Goodbrand also participated in the meeting.

Lt. Turner heads the Traffic Unit, which is responsible for enforcing the traffic laws, investigating traffic collisions, and assisting the Public Works Department in finding solutions to traffic related challenges. The Traffic Unit also oversees the Parking Enforcement Unit, Commercial Enforcement and the Crossing Guards at or near the local schools.

Sgt. Goodbrand supervises IPD’s School Resource Officers, who work in partnership with the Irvine and Tustin Unified School Districts to provide safe school campuses throughout the Irvine community. Through enforcement of the law and education, the School Resource Officers are a direct link between the Irvine youth community and the Irvine Police Department.

As a result of the meeting, Councilmember Fox is pleased to announce that the IPD is taking the following steps:

• Increase educational outreach to the public about the importance of compliance with stop signs and overall traffic safety rules, including increased outreach in Mandarin.
• Increase traffic enforcement and IPD visibility at all Irvine schools during pick-up and drop-off.
• Increase traffic enforcement and IPD visibility at Cypress Village and Woodbury.
• Add crossing guard at intersection of Arborwood and Canyonwood in Northwood Point (near Canyon View Elementary School).

Councilmember Fox and Chief Hamel also invited residents to contact their representatives with concerns, questions, and suggestions regarding traffic safety:

Lt. Kyle Turner, IPD Traffic Unit, kturner@cityofirvine.org, 949-724-7217.

Allison Binder, Councilmember Fox’s Lead Executive Council Assistant, abinder@ci.irvine.ca.us., 949-724-6226.

Commissioner Ken Montgomery, Councilmember Fox’s appointee to the Irvine Traffic Commission, kenmontgomery@cityofirvine.org.

Councilmember Fox also announced that she will be holding a Town Hall on Traffic Safety on Saturday, January 26, 2019, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Woodbury Community Park, located at 130 Sanctuary, Irvine, CA 92620.

Councilmember Melissa Fox, Traffic Commissioner Ken Montgomery, and members of the Irvine Police Department will participate in the Town Hall on Traffic Safety.

Residents are encouraged to attend and participate in the Town Hall on Traffic Safety with their concerns, questions, and suggestions.

“I am looking forward to a Town Hall meeting focused on traffic safety and making Irvine an even safer place to live and raise a family,” Councilmember Fox said.  “In Irvine, we’re proud that community engagement is an essential element of our approach to law enforcement.”

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Note: A Facebook Event Page for the Irvine Town Hall on Traffic Safety has been posted here.  Please invite your friends and neighbors.  See you there!

UPDATE: Following up on the commitment made in my meeting on traffic safety with Chief Mike Hamel, the Irvine Police Traffic Bureau conducted a high visibility enforcement detail on the loop in Woodbridge. In 90 minutes, traffic personnel issued 50 citations for cell phone use, stop sign and other traffic violations. Thank you, Irvine Police Department! #DriveSafeIrvine