Traffic citations in Yorba Linda jump more than 50 percent; 31st fireworks display set for July 4

A large jump in citations issued for traffic violations on Yorba Linda's more than 200 miles of roadways was one highlight of the Orange County Sheriff's Department annual report on enforcement presented at a recent Traffic Commission meeting.

Citations increased more than 50 percent last year over the previous year, from 1,483 to 2,246. Hazardous citations were up 14.9 percent, from 680 to 781, while non-hazardous citations jumped 82.4 percent, from 803 to 1,465.

Hazardous citations are defined as moving violations, including those detected by radar or lidar (laser-related) devices, and non-hazardous citations are defined as “all others,” which include equipment, registration and seatbelt infractions.

Arrests for suspicion of driving under the influence remained about the same in the 20-square-mile city, dipping from 66 to 65. Interestingly, just one DUI arrest occurred in the holiday month of December, with arrests ranging from three each in May and July to eight in April.

Hit-and-run collisions dropped 12.7 percent, from 55 to 48, while injuries from hit-and-runs increased from two to seven. The total number of collisions fell from 234 to 216, while collision injuries were up from 70 to 84. Two deaths were reported in each year.

Collisions attributed to driving under the influence increased from 23 to 29, with one death and eight injuries last year compared with eight injuries the previous year. Collisions due to unsafe turns dropped from 43 to 28, while unsafe speed factors dropped from 37 to 30.

Statistics for the first month this year: 30 hazardous and 84 non-hazardous citations, four injury and four non-injury collisions, two hit-and-run collisions and four arrests on suspicion of driving under the influence.

The five City Council-appointed traffic commissioners also have paved the way for the 31^st year of the July 4 celebration at Veterans Sports Park and the fields at Yorba Linda Middle School.

They approved closures of Valley View and Casa Loma avenues between Imperial Highway and Yorba Linda Boulevard and waived parking restrictions on Valley View Avenue for the event beginning at 5 p.m. The 20-minute fireworks display is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m.

Total cost for the event is estimated at $75,000, including personnel, equipment, fireworks, stage, sound, lighting and live entertainment, according to a recent report to the council by Mike Kudron, parks and recreation director.

The fireworks component for the city's most-watched event since 1989 will cost some $24,000. Last year, the city collected $22,000 in corporate sponsorships, which city staff “hopes to maintain or exceed” this year, Kudron noted.

The $27,300 annual revenue from the cell tower at Brush Canyon Park is designated to help offset July 4 expenditures.

The city outlawed individual fireworks use in 1987, after a 1986 advisory ballot with 8,651 votes in favor of a ban and 4,207 opposed.