The Menlo Park Police Department exists to protect life and property by minimizing the effects of criminal and traffic activities. We respond to the changing needs of our dynamic community by implementing and sustaining compassionate, creative, and comprehensive law enforcement programs which focus on prevention, as well as apprehension.

Menlo Park Police Department Traffic Unit

Traffic safety, pedestrian and bicycle safety, vehicle congestion and traffic flow are major issues in Menlo Park. Our city is not only a destination for thousands of local business employees, but we also provide major connector links to commuter traffic entering or leaving the San Francisco Peninsula. Since the 1920's, Menlo Park has diligently enforced traffic laws. The Menlo Park Police Department has concentrated on traffic issues by dedicating officers specifically to traffic enforcement.

This has ranged from a single officer working in a traffic car as part of a patrol team to solo or group motorcycle enforcement. The current unit has grown to a traffic sergeant, 4 traffic officers, 1 motorcycle instructor, 3 parking enforcement officers. One officer specializes in Commercial Enforcement.

The main goals of the Traffic Unit are to reduce the number of traffic collisions and promote traffic safety within the City of Menlo Park. The officers work individual enforcement, multiple officer saturation enforcement in response to neighborhood and citizen complaints, commercial vehicle enforcement, DUI enforcement and thorough investigation of all accidents involving injuries.

All Menlo Park patrol officers respond to accident calls and write basic accident reports. However, if the injuries are serious, potentially life threatening or fatal, the traffic unit is called out to investigate. The unit will also investigate unusal traffic incidents and accidents involving road conditions in the city.

Parking enforcement is handled by our full and part time parking enforcement officers, assigned to both the Downtown and Residential permit areas and for city-wide enforcement of Menlo Park's unique Overnight parking ordinance.