Second LASD Motorcycle Deputy Is Officially on Full-Time Patrol

• Speeders Will Be Primary Ticket Targets

BY SUZANNE GULDIMANN

Malibu’s new full-time Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department motorcycle deputy is officially on patrol on Pacific Coast Highway, responding to pressure from the community, spearheaded by the grassroots highway safety group A Safer PCH, which formed following the death of 13-year old Malibu resident Emily Rose Shane on PCH in April.

In June, the Malibu city council unanimously voted to allocate $175,000 to pay for an additional full-time motorcycle deputy to patrol PCH.  However, continuing the service in future years is anticipated to cost nearly $250,000 annually. 

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department provides traffic and law enforcement for the City of Malibu on a contract basis. It launched the enhanced enforcement on PCH with temporary motorcycle deputies in July. On Monday, the permanent, full-time motorcycle deputy took over the assignment.

According to a press release, the extra motor has generated 135 additional citations in the first two weeks of increased enforcement—80 percent for speeding violations, 20 percent for right-of-way, cell phone, driver license, stopping, seatbelt and pedestrian violations.

 “The new motorcycle deputy will focus on speeding motorists along PCH because that is the number one cause of accidents,” said Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff's Station Captain Joseph Stephen. “The motorcycle deputy also will enforce all other motor vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian laws.”

The new motor joins the city’s current motorcycle deputy, who is ranked as the sheriff’s department’s single highest citation writer, according to Stephen.

The sheriff’s department reported that the Malibu Beach Patrol team has provided an increased presence along PCH “to ensure public safety.” 

“With smaller crowds at Malibu beaches because of this summer’s cooler weather, the Beach Patrol has been able to devote more time to traffic enforcement, including targeting speeders, drivers making unsafe U-turns or blocking roadways and parking violations,” a press release states.

 “Public safety is the top priority for the City of Malibu, and the increased traffic enforcement is already helping to slow down motorists, reduce unsafe driving maneuvers and make PCH a safer thoroughfare,” said Malibu Mayor Jefferson Wagner.

 “As a former deputy myself, I know the positive impact added enforcement will have on safety along the highway.  We urge motorists to slow down and drive with care along PCH and on all our streets. Together, we can ensure our residents and visitors enjoy Malibu safely.”

 “The City of Malibu has been actively promoting traffic safety and has been working with Caltrans, the City’s Public Safety Commission, the California Highway Patrol, state legislators and the public on many improvements, including the posting of electronic speed advisory signs, a new traffic signal at Corral Canyon and PCH  and several new Qwick Kurb barriers along the 27-mile stretch of PCH within the city,” the press release concludes.

According to the sheriff's department, the annual rate of fatalities on PCH for the past 10 years has averaged 2.5. However, there have been five fatalities on PCH in Malibu this year, double the annual rate—leading to calls for increased enforcement.

The recent epidemic of fatal accidents has led some in the community, including ASPCH and city councilmember Lou La Monte, to call for the California Highway Patrol to return to PCH, in addition to increased sheriff’s department presence.

The CHP has not actively patrolled PCH in Malibu since Malibu became a city, although they continue to patrol Malibu’s  numerous canyon roads.