The South Bend Police Department does not maintain a full time Traffic Unit, however the department focuses its traffic efforts on serious injury/fatal crash and hit & run investigation, reconstruction of crashes and also on public programs, such as seat belt enforcement, child safety seat installations, DUI apprehensions, and other traffic safety campaigns.

The SBPD Traffic Unit is composed of several facets involving traffic investigation, enforcement and education programs, and is also responsible for special events coordination, such as traffic control during Notre Dame Football games, marathons, Presidential visits, and other events requiring additional resources in ensuring safe, efficient traffic control within the city, as commanded by Lieutenant Steve Goen.

The Traffic Unit is comprised of several officers who work on call status in various roles related to the Investigation and Enforcement of traffic laws and crash investigation. Including our Traffic Crash & Reconstruction Unit, which investigates on scene and post crash crash scene diagramming and investigation of serious and fatal crashes, and also our two Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) Officers who are highly trained and specialized in the detection of not only drunk, but more specifically, drug impaired driver detection and apprehension.

The Traffic Unit also works with the Governor's Council on Impaired & Dangerous Driving, by staffing extra patrolling funded through state grants awarded to the South Bend Police Department. Amongst these programs:
Click It Or Ticket Seat Belt Use Campaigns


DUI Enforcement Patrols/Aggressive Driving Patrols

OWI Enforcement Patrols/ St. Joseph Traffic Safety Task Force

UPDATE: DUI Task Force named Best in State December 2007 (related story)

Child Seat Installation Clinics are held for parents wanting their child/booster seat installations examined to be sure the placement and installation is correct. For information on these clinics (appointments needed) please call Sgt Bill Kraus at 574.235.5858.