LAPD - Central Traffic Station

If you, a loved one or a family member has been arrested by or is being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Central Traffic Division, it can cause a lot of worrying.  Facing such a situation, one may want to know the bail amount (if any) associated with the offense if police deny an own recognizance (OR) release.  It is also not uncommon to ask what evidence is needed to convict one for the crime that allegedly took place, the defenses possible and the sentence a judge can impose if one is convicted of the crime. 

 
We at Greg Hill & Associates believe it is good to know a few more things before interacting with any branch of law enforcement.  It can be valuable to know the size of the police or sheriff’s department, the area’s demographics, the most common types of crime the department investigates and just a bit about the area’s history to make one’s communication with law enforcement more meaningful, more savvy and perhaps, more respectful.  This can lead to a better outcome than if one lacks such perspective.

This article is presented with this goal in mind.

The LAPD Central Traffic Division is responsible for enforcement of traffic laws, investigation of traffic accidents and preventing traffic-related crimes in the Central, Northeast, Hollenbeck, Newton and Rampart districts to ensure the smooth flow of traffic within its jurisdiction.  This area is composed of 1,139 street miles.

The LAPD Central Traffic Division typically defers to the California Highway Patrol for traffic enforcement duties along the freeway in its area, as well as in certain surface streets close to the freeway.  There is some overlap in traffic enforcement along such surface streets.

Such crimes can include DUI, hit and run, reckless driving and speeding, as well as such infractions as driving while using a cell phone and driving without the use of a seat belt. The traffic divisions of the LAPD (there are four for the County of Los Angeles) also often operate DUI check point stops.

What many have found, and we certainly have, is that a police officer may initiate a traffic stop for what is initially believed to be a simple traffic ticket, for example for an inoperable taillight or expired registration.  However, the officer develops a reasonable suspicion that the driver may have violated other laws or is involved in something far more serious than an infraction and so the officer requests additional officers to help him and / or prevent a problem.  The seemingly low-level, routine traffic stop can then progress and change into an arrest for something very serious.

The Central Division includes the cities / areas of Chinatown, Little Tokyo, South Park, Central City East, the Historic Core, the downtown Financial District, the Artists’ Lofts area, historic Olvera Street, the Jewelry District, the Convention Center and the Fashion District.

The Northeast Division includes the cities / areas of Atwater Village, Cypress Park, Eagle Rock, East Hollywood, Echo Park, Elysian Park, Elysian Valley, Glassell Park, Griffith Park, Highland Park, Los Feliz, Mt. Washington and the Silverlake Northeast Area.

The Hollenbeck Division includes the cities of El Sereno, Lincoln Heights and Boyle Heights.

The Newton Division includes the area east of the I-110 (Harbor Freeway) and mostly south of the I-10 (Santa Monica Freeway) south to Florence Avenue and east to Alameda Street.

The Rampart Division includes the cities of Echo Park, MacArthur Park and the Rampart Victorian Homes.

The station has 150 sworn police officers and an undisclosed number of civilian support personnel.  Most cases arising in the Central Traffic Division area are brought at the Metropolitan Courthouse at 1945 S. Hill Street in downtown Los Angeles, but some are also brought at the Clara Shortridge Foltz criminal courts building (CCB), also in downtown Los Angeles.  Cases that may be filed at CCB instead of at the Metro Courthouse would be cases such as felony hit and run, vehicular manslaughter (for example, of a pedestrian) and felony DUI.

Our office has handled over 250 DUI cases, dozens of hit and run cases, as well as many other traffic-related offenses in our 25 plus years of practice.

For more information about being arrested and possibly facing a criminal case, please click on the following articles:

Below is the  Google Map to the LAPD Central Traffic Station.