Williams CHP office wins traffic safety award

The California Highway Patrol office in Williams is among the 2010 California Law Challenge winners for its traffic safety program.

CHP Assistant Commissioner Ramona Prieto presented the award to Cmdr. James T. Epperson and the staff on Tuesday morning.

The Williams office competed against other California law enforcement agencies of similar size. It finished second to Truc ee, missing the top spot by five points, said Officer John Waggoner, public information officer for the Williams office.

Points are assigned based on the number of seat belt citations, child safety seat citations, drunken driving arrests, speed enforcement and the office's general public safety program.

"It's not just what we do out on the road, but what we do in the office and going out in the communities ... and teaching people about speed enforcement, DUI and safety belt enforcement."

Waggoner said this award is actually based on 2010 numbers. The program was delayed by one year.

There were 229 submissions for the award statewide, of which 119 were CHP offices.

"The CLEC program is important and instrumental in promoting advancement in traffic safety; thereby continuing to decrease the number of people killed per 100 million miles traveled in California," the CHP said in a statement.

In addition to Prieto, Northern Division Assistant Chief Ruben Leal attended the ceremony. Officer Justin Sherwood put together the package for the Williams office.