DETAILS:

The Oxnard Police Department Traffic Division conducted two Sobriety and Driver’s License checkpoints on November 21, 2009 from 6:00 P.M. to midnight.

The first checkpoint was conducted in the westbound lanes of Channel Islands Boulevard from M Street.

The second checkpoint was conducted in the southbound lanes of Oxnard Boulevard at Citrus Grove Lane.

Officers screened 1025 motorists who passed through the checkpoints. Officers conducted five DUI investigations that led to the arrest of one driver for DUI. 33 drivers were issued citations for various drivers’ license violations. 33 vehicles were towed and the owners of the vehicles will face a minimum tow fee of $494.00.

The Oxnard Police Department will continue conducting DUI enforcement and Sobriety and Driver’s License checkpoints in an effort to reduce the number of alcohol related crashes and to make our roadways and community safer. We also remind people that if they see an impaired driver to dial 911. The checkpoints are funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Transportation Administration.

By: Senior Police Officer Brian Woolley
Oxnard Police Department Traffic Coordinator
(385-7749)

Oxnard, CA

DETAILS: 

The Oxnard Police Department Traffic Division conducted two Sobriety and Driver’s License checkpoints on November 19th, 2009 from 6:00 P.M. till Midnight.

The first checkpoint was conducted in the northbound lanes of Ventura Road north of Seventh St.

The second checkpoint was conducted in the southbound lanes of Victoria Ave. south of Fifth Street.

Officers screened (926) motorists who passed through the checkpoints. Officers conducted (2) DUI investigations during the checkpoints. (8) Drivers were issued citations for various drivers’ license violations. (8) Vehicles were towed and the owners of the vehicles will face a minimum tow fee of $494.00.

The Oxnard Police Department will continue conducting DUI enforcement and Sobriety and Driver’s License checkpoints in an effort to reduce the number of alcohol related crashes and to make our roadways and community safer. We also remind people that if they see an impaired driver to dial 911. The checkpoints are funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Transportation Administration.

DETAILS: 

On 9/5/09, at about 1700 hours, officers from the Oxnard Police Department responded to a call of a robbery that occurred at 250 East Pleasant Valley Road. The victim was selling ice cream from a cart when he was approached by the suspect. The suspect displayed a handgun in his waistband and demanded the ice cream cart. The suspect fled the area with the cart which contained ice cream and cash made from sales. As the suspect fled, he told the victim not to call the police or he would harm his family.

The suspect was stopped by officers in the area and identified. An imitation firearm was recovered during the investigation.

The suspect was also identified in an attempted robbery that occurred earlier in the 2600 block of Samuel Ave. In that incident, the suspect approached the victim on foot and displayed a handgun in his waistband. The suspect demanded the victim’s wallet and cellular phone. When the victim ran towards a group of people, the suspect fled the area.

There have been several robberies in the area with similar descriptions. Investigations are continuing.

The Oxnard Police Department is urging the public to help keep the streets safe this Thanksgiving and upcoming holiday season. The number one killer on our highways is the impaired driver. In 2008, alcohol attributed to 1,029 deaths in California with more than 30,000 injured, many still suffering with life-long disabilities.

The Oxnard Police Department will begin its crackdown on DUI drivers this holiday season by conducting multi-location sobriety and driver’s license checkpoints on Thursday, November 19th, from 6:00 P.M. to 12:00 A.M. and on Saturday, November 21st, from 6:00 P.M. to 12:00 A.M. The checkpoints will be held at various locations throughout the City of Oxnard.

In addition to the checkpoints, officers from the Oxnard Police Department will also be out in force on Monday night, November 23rd, 2009, conducting a DUI saturation patrol. These officers will patrol the streets of Oxnard specifically searching for impaired drivers.

The added DUI enforcement on Halloween night this year was proven to be successful with 10 DUI arrests and no alcohol related crashes.

The DUI checkpoints and DUI saturation patrols are funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Oxnard Police Department wants everyone to have a wonderful holiday season and if you choose to celebrate with alcohol, we recommend the following tips:

• Plan a safe way home before your celebration begins
• If you plan to get a ride home with someone else, designate a sober driver before any drinking begins
• If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely
• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate – Call 9-1-1
• If you know someone who is about to drive his/her car or ride a motorcycle while impaired, take away the keys and help make other arrangements for a safe ride home

The Oxnard Police Department will continue conducting Sobriety and Driver’s License checkpoints and saturation patrols over the upcoming holiday season in an effort to reduce the number of alcohol related crashes and to make our roadways and community safer.

In addition to our DUI enforcement, The Oxnard Police Department is strictly enforcing seatbelt violations during our Click it or Ticket campaign that started November 17th and runs through November 30th.

For any questions related to DUI and traffic enforcement, please contact Senior Officer Brian Woolley at (805) 385-7749 or via e-mail at brianwoolley@oxnardpd.org.

DETAILS: 

On 09-07-2009 at 5:13 p.m., several witnesses reported a fight involving a gun in the 1100 block of Rigging Place. Officers from the Oxnard Police Department responded to the location.

The alleged victim on Rigging Place was uncooperative with the investigation; nevertheless officers initiated traffic stops on both suspect vehicles. One stop was conducted at Isleton Street and M Street; the second stop at Wooley Road and J Street.

No weapon was located in either vehicle. One of the vehicle occupants was arrested on an unrelated parole violation. Hiram Madrid Ramirez, 38 years, of Oxnard, is being held without bail at the Ventura County Jail.

Persons with additional information about this incident or any crime are encouraged to call the Oxnard Police Department Violent Crimes Hotline at (805) 982-7070 or Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.

An investigation is continuing.

GET HOME SAFELY FOR THE HOLIDAYS BY BUCKLING UP

Oxnard, Calif. – Make sure everyone in the family gets home safely this holiday season by buckling your seat belt every trip, day and night. That’s the message that the Oxnard Police Department is telling drivers as part of the 2009 holiday Click It or Ticket mobilization, November 17 – 30. Officers will be out in force looking for anyone – driver, passenger or child – not properly restrained.

Given the years of public awareness campaigns, including hundreds of Click It or Ticket highway signs, no warnings will be given out. The Click It or Ticket campaign relies on heavy enforcement and education as a means to help save lives on California’s roadways.

"There is absolutely no question that seat belts save lives," said John Crombach, Oxnard Chief of Police. "Buckling up will not only save you a heavy fine, it can also save your life."

Currently California has a seat belt usage rate of 95.4 percent, but that still means over 1.5 million people in the state are not buckling up. Properly restrained drivers, passengers and children have a 50 percent better chance of surviving a crash than unbelted occupants. Those ejected from vehicles in crashes or roll-overs are up to 35 times more likely to die than restrained occupants.

"There are no excuses. Nothing is worth risking the lives of you or your family," said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety. "This should be the season of joy and thanksgiving, not tragedy."

More than 175 local law enforcement agencies statewide and the CHP will be participating in this year’s Click It or Ticket mobilization. Funding to support California’s Click It or Ticket campaign was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

DETAILS: 

The Oxnard Police Department unveiled a new component to its existing Crime Free Business program called, "Hats Off to Beat Crime." The  purpose  of the  program  is to reduce robbery and violence in retail establishments.

The Hats Off program is adapted from a successful crime prevention effort undertaken by the Folkestone Police Station in Kent, England. According to Police Constable John Weller of the Folkestone Neighbourhood [sic-British spelling] Policing Unit, the Hats Off effort dates back some 300 years. "I found out that King Carlos III of Spain introduced a similar program in the 1700s where he banned the wearing a broad-brimmed hats, which were being used to conceal the identity of criminals." (Citation: The History of Spain by Peter Pierson, pp.78-79, published by Greenwood,2008.)

The concept behind Oxnard’s Hats Off campaign is not much different from that of ancient Spain. Many commercial robberies in our city occur with suspects concealing their faces with hats, hoodies or helmets. The 8" by 10" full-color sticker (as pictured above) is available to any Oxnard-based business. It is placed near the entrances of the business as a reminder to customers to remove head apparel before entering.

Refusing to remove hats, hoodies or helmets does not constitute a crime in of itself, but business owners do have the right to refuse service to persons so dressed. California law makes the obstruction or intimidation of businesses or its employees a misdemeanor.* Therefore, business owners have discretion in who they choose to serve based on apparel and the threat of criminal activity.

"You have to wonder why a person would go into a business with their face concealed," says Detective Marty Ennis, Crime Free coordinator with the Oxnard Police Department. "If you’re not a crook, why would you want to look like one?"

Oxnard police recommend that owners pay particular attention to customers who conceal their faces. "Employees are well within the rights to ask a customer to comply with the sign," said Ennis. "If the customer refuses to cooperate, the store employee can ask the customer to leave. If the customer refuses to leave, the police should be called because the situation has escalated to a possible criminal act." Persons who fail to cooperate with the reasonable requests of business employees may be subject to arrest.

Businesses interested in the Hats Off campaign or the Crime Free Business program can contact Detective Martin Ennis at (805) 385-8349 or MartinEnnis@OxnardPD.org. Additional information is available online at http://www.oxnardpd.org/crimefreebusiness/.