Traffic sergeant: DUI enforcement up, collisions down in February; commissioners seek location-level data

Traffic Sergeant Christie Trampus of the North Coastal Sheriff's Station told Encinitas' Mobility and Traffic Safety Commission on March 9 that February enforcement produced more DUI arrests than the same month last year and that collisions are down roughly 30% compared with the prior year.

Trampus said staff logged 16 collisions on the city map for February and initially reported 519 citations in the packet but later noted more than 600 citations were actually issued after a late-month traffic blitz. "DUI arrests were up in 2026 versus 2025," she said, adding that the increase reflects stepped-up DUI enforcement rather than an implied rise in drinking and driving.

Commissioners pressed for finer-grained data. "When you have more speeding violations or citations than red-light, is that related to where the sheriffs are locating their vehicles?" Commissioner Templin asked. Trampus replied deputies deploy both in response to resident complaints and based on collision data: "If there's red light or stop sign violations that people are complaining about, our deputies will go out and enforce those areas," she said.

Commissioner Medock asked whether the 12 citations for exceeding 65 mph were on local streets or state highways; staff said they did not have point-by-point locations available at the meeting but offered to research and report back. Trampus also clarified definitions used in the traffic reports: a "non-collision" is a single-vehicle incident such as a bicyclist crashing without involvement from another road user, which still generates a report.

The commission thanked the sheriff's traffic team and requested that staff return next month with location-level citation and collision breakdowns for the top speed and red-light enforcement categories. The update preceded a lengthy agenda on school-area crossings and other mobility projects.