MEET THE Traffic Safety Awards MUNICIPAL COURT The Texas ...

A project of the Texas Municipal Courts Education Centerin cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation

BEST PracticesMunicipal Traffic Safety InitiativesA

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Traffic Safety Awards

Award Recipients Honored

MEET THEMUNICIPAL COURT

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Balch SpringsHarker Heights

KatyRoyse City

ShenandoahWestworth Village

BurlesonConroe

FriscoHurst

La PorteNorth Richland Hills

El PasoIrving

2011 Municipal TrafficSafety Awards

TMCA Message

DTSS Contact List

Driving on the Right Side of the Road

The Texas Municipal Courts Education Center’s (TMCEC) Municipal Traffic Safety Initiatives, funded by a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), sponsored the 2010 Traffic Safety Awards to recognize those who work in municipalities that have made outstanding contributions to their community in an effort to increase traffic safety.

This competition was a friendly way for municipalities to increase their attention to quality of life issues through traffic safety activities.

All municipal courts in Texas were eligible to apply. Award recipients were honored at the TMCEC Municipal Traffic Safety Conference on May 23-25, 2010 at the Omni Riverway Hotel in Houston, Texas.

Applicants were judged on the basis of what their court is doing in terms of public outreach in their community to increase traffic safety while decreasing traffic crashes, traffic fatalities, juvenile DUI, child safety seat offenses, red light running, and other traffic related offenses.

Fourteen prizes were awarded: two in the large volume courts, serving populations of 150,000 or more; six in the medium volume courts, serving populations between 30,000 and 149,999; and six in the small volume courts, serving populations below 30,000. The courts listed below received recognition for their initiatives.

Balch Springs, Harker Heights, Katy, Royse City, Shenandoah, and Westworth Village were selected from the low volume courts; Burleson, Conroe, Frisco, Hurst, North Richland Hills, and La Porte from the medium volume courts; and El Paso and Irving from the high volume courts.

Texas Municipal Court Association President, Judge Edward Spillane, College Station Municipal Court, presented the awards.

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August 2010Best Practices

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Balch Springs Low VolumeTraffic safety is important to the Balch Springs Municipal Court, where they are focusing on educating young people about the consequences of irresponsible decisions.

New traffic safety initiatives are frequently being added to their traffic safety program – and they expect these initiatives to become

more and more central to the service that they provide as a court.

The Balch Springs Municipal Court includes alternative sentencing in juvenile cases, such as the “Death Book,” where the juvenile must write his or her own obituary for actual alcohol-related deaths found in the newspaper.

Harker Heights Low VolumeThe Harker Heights Municipal Court has recently conducted traffic safety education programs on seat belts, bicycle and pedestrian safety, driving under the influence, the dangers of using a cell phone and texting while driving, and older drivers.

Several court employees are trained and certified as child safety seat inspectors, and they regularly hold car seat inspection events. Also, Judge Hall was instrumental in getting the high school debate team involved with the Teen Court.

Judge Dana Huffman, TMCA Board President Ed Spillane of College Station (who is also present in the following photographs), and

Director of Court Services Deborah Jessup.

Court Administrators Leona Clay and Julie Helsham, Judge Antonio Kosta, and Officer Rick Meredith.

August 2010

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Katy Low VolumeOutreach and education regarding the importance of traffic safety has been a part of the Katy Municipal Court for several years. Each year, elementary students participate in a mock trial involving a seat belt violation. Further, Judge Brasher often visits with students to discuss traffic safety issues.

These discussions invariably produce extremely insightful questions and observations by the students.

Traffic safety posters are also prominently displayed and resources are readily available around the Katy Municipal Court.

Deputy Court Clerk Marcicruz Stagg, Court Administrator Elaine Brown, and Judge Jeffrey Brashear.

Royse City Low VolumeThe “Death Book” was created in memory of Matthew Blake, someone who was very special to Judge Bonnie Goldstein, who died at a young age as a result of exceeding the posted speed limit. As a required condition of deferred disposition, all drivers under 25 years of age must read three deaths from the “Death Book” and complete a form illustrating details of the alcohol-related deaths that they read

about. Afterwards, the defendant must write his or her own obituary.

The purpose of the “Death Book” is to change the behavior of young people through showing them first-hand the potentially deadly consequences of their actions. Judge Goldstein shares her sincere hope with each defendant that they will not become a part of the “Death Book.”

Judge Bonnie Goldstein.

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Shenandoah Low VolumeShenandoah is considered by many to be the “safest little town in Texas.” For the past 10 years, Judge Valdez has dedicated much of his personal time to the Shattered Dreams Program, which issues mock fatal DWI traffic tickets to students. The purpose here is to give students a taste of what losing a loved one or classmate feels like. During Municipal Court Week, the Shenandoah Municipal Court hosted

the Rubicon Academy, a local school, where many students in attendance were eager to have their traffic safety questions answered.

Child safety seat inspections are performed monthly, which is especially convenient in light of the new safety seat laws that went into effect in September of 2009.

Court Clerk Claudia Cardenas and Court Administrator Wanda Kelly.

Westworth Village Low VolumeWestworth Village is another relatively small community with a large emphasis on traffic safety. During national “Night Out,” 29 children participated in a mock trial in their courtroom. Furthermore, they are actively planning a new Teen Court program.

In October, two court clerks volunteered

their time to attend the Texas Municipal League Conference and Convention in Fort Worth to assist with the Municipal Traffic Safety Initiatives exhibit. To emphasize the importance of buckling up, the “Rollover Convincer Car” was on display last year for students, teachers, and residents to observe. Court Clerk Deborah J. Townsley, Deputy Clerk Marcia

Gonzales-Boyte, and Judge Kyle Knapp.

August 2010

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Director of Court Services Constance R. White.

The Burleson Municipal Court’s contributions to traffic safety education have been exemplary. They have established a Teen Court where they regularly conduct mock trials, have utilized the “Teens in the Driver’s Seat” website as part of sentencing for all juveniles guilty of a traffic violation, and have created a youth task force to identify

specific problems concerning young people and general safety.

As a result of the partnership between the Burleson Municipal Court and the Burleson ISD’s Criminal Justice Program, curriculum for the 2010-11 school year will include Teen Court as a requirement.

Burleson Medium Volume

Court Clerk Rhonda Scarborough and Deputy Clerk Eve Glaspie.

To address the high number of fatalities in the City of Conroe and Montgomery County, the court decided to introduce alternative sentencing for those juveniles charged with traffic and alcohol offenses. This, along with other programs initiated by the Conroe Municipal Court, has resulted in a substantial 10% reduction in accidents from the previous year. It also appears to have reduced underage drinking.

“How is My Driving?” bumper stickers are now being used on juvenile offenders’ vehicles so the public can report any poor driving to the court.

Other Conroe programs include the “Wall of Memory,” red light cameras, and Warrant Round-Up. The Conroe Municipal Court also utilizes video clips during arraignments and juvenile court days to further emphasize the importance of safe driving.

Conroe Medium Volume

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Frisco Medium Volume

Judge Michael Drewry and Assistant City Manager Nell Lange.

The Frisco Municipal Court is committed to numerous traffic safety programs and initiatives.

They are currently in the process of expanding the “No Refusal Weekends and Holidays” program to all day, every day. The Frisco Fire Department works with the Frisco ISD to enhance youngsters’ awareness and need for traffic and pedestrian safety. They have also implemented the Shattered Dreams

program. State of the art technology, used together with red light cameras and effective signage, is used to facilitate a safe flow of traffic. The City of Frisco’s monthly newsletter, Focal Point, has a page dedicated monthly to traffic safety.

It is clear that the City of Frisco and the Frisco Municipal Court are doing their part to improve traffic safety.

Hurst Medium VolumeIn Hurst, red light cameras have been implemented at intersections where there are a high rate of accidents with the goal to decrease traffic accidents in and around that area. The municipal court website is a source of information on traffic safety.

The Hurst - Euless - Bedford Teen Court is

a diversion program which allows juveniles (Class C misdemeanor offenders) an alternative to the criminal justice system. Upon successful completion of the program, offenders’ cases are dismissed and do not appear on their record. Hurst Municipal Court has been proactive in their initiatives towards promoting traffic safety. Court Administrator Lisa Howard and Police Chief Stephen Moore.

August 2010

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Court Administrator Lynda Kilgore, Judge Denise Mitrano, and Senior Deputy Clerk Mary Ann Harrison.

La Porte Municipal Court has participated in Shattered Dreams, an alcohol-awareness school based education program that requires the active participation of students, parents, educators, and community representatives, since its inception. Traffic safety information on young drivers, distracted drivers, and underage drinking and driving has been distributed at a high school retreat, the police department, day care facilities, schools, municipal court lobby,

annual safety fair, and the La Porte Public Library. During Municipal Court Week, traffic safety was the focus with an article published in the Bayshore Sun highlighting the municipal court and its involvement in traffic safety initiatives. The “How’s My Driving” bumper sticker program was also implemented.

La Porte Municipal Court feels community involvement and traffic safety education are important roles of the municipal court.

La Porte Medium Volume

North Richland Hills Medium VolumeIn 2009, 73% of the cases heard in the North Richland Hills Municipal Court’s Teen Court were traffic related. The court addresses juvenile offenses with the youths and their parents at the bench with explanations, admonishments, and encouragement while

being sentenced. The Teen Court also has presented mock trials to various middle and high schools. The Teen Court judge and coordinator have been doing their part by speaking to many students at all grade levels.

Court Administrators Debbie Durko and Rebecca Vinson.

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New traffic safety initiatives were implemented in 2009 and 2010 with judicial outreach. Judges went to local high schools and spoke to students on the importance of driving safely and the dangers of underage drinking and driving. The judges have targeted all 12 of the local high schools and plan to visit all.

There have been traffic safety presentations at the middle schools, as

well as participation in community events to stress traffic safety. Community partnerships are a vital component of municipal courts making a difference in their community and the implementation of their many programs. Other programs offered are: defensive driving, motorcycle safety, child safety, and alcohol education for minors.

Municipal courts are typically the first point of

contact for an individual’s introduction into the legal system and through their many programs, outreach, education, and community partnerships,

the El Paso Municipal Court is dedicated to improving traffic safety.

Assistant Clerk Lilia Worrell, Judge Daniel Robledo, Court Supervisor Gabriela Valle, and Judge Richard A. Olivio.

El Paso Large Volume

Irving Large VolumeThree new initiatives were implemented in 2009-2010. A partnership with MADD has provided victim impact panel sessions for minors with alcohol offenses. This is mandatory for a minor fulfilling their part of the alcohol related community service obligation. The court also participated in TxDOT’s “Choose Your Ride Campaign” and several “No Refusal” weekends.

Along with the Statewide Impaired Driving Mobilization Grant, TxDOT provided added emphasis with signage warning motorists of specific enforcements. In the last year, 12 groups of students visited the municipal court. All were provided traffic safety resources. The city wide publication, City Spectrum, provided 13 traffic safety articles to the community.

Judge Rodney Adams and Prosecutor Laura Anderson.

August 2010

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2011 Municipal Traffic Safety Initiatives Purpose: To recognize those who work in local municipalities and have made outstanding contributions to their community in an effort to increase traffic safety. This competition is a friendly way for municipalities to increase their attention to quality of life through traffic safety activities.

Eligibility: Any municipal court in the State of Texas. Entries may be submitted on behalf of the court by the following: Judge, Court Clerk, Deputy Court Clerk, Court Manager, Court Administrator, Bailiff, Marshal, Warrant Officer, City Manager, City Councilperson, Law Enforcement Representative, or Community Member.

Awards: Award recipients will be honored at the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center (TMCEC) Traffic Safety Conference that will be held on May 22-24, 2011 in San Antonio, Texas at the Omni San Antonio Hotel at the Colonnade.

Nine (9) awards will be given: * Two (2) in the large volume courts: serving a population of 150,000 or more; * Three (3) in the medium volume courts: serving populations between 30,000 and 149,999; and * Four (4) in the small volume courts: serving a population below 30,000.

Award recipients receive for two municipal court representatives, complimentary conference registration travel to and from the 2011 Municipal Traffic Safety Initiatives Conference to include airfare or mileage that is within state guidelines, two nights’ accommodations at the Omni San Antonio Hotel at the Colonnade, and most meals and refreshments.

Honorable Mention: If there are a number of applications that are reviewed and deemed outstanding and innovative, at the discretion of TMCEC, honorable men-tions may be selected. Honorable mentions will be provided complimentary confer-ence registration to attend the Traffic Safety Conference and will be recognized at the Traffic Safety Conference.

Deadline:Entries must be postmarked no later than Friday, January 28, 2011.

Presentation:Award recipients and honorable mention winners will be notified by March 25, 2011 and honored during the Traffic Safety Conference to be held May 22-24, 2011 at the Omni San Antonio Hotel at the Colonnade in San Antonio, Texas.

Details:For complete award details, submission guidelines, and application form, go to www.tmcec.com, Municipal Traffic Safety Initiative, Traffic Safety Awards 2011.

Traffic safety benefits can go far beyond the traffic stop!

• Get involved

• Add traffic safety materials toyour city’s and court’s websites

• Host a warrant round-up withnearby cities

• Invite school groups into your court

• Start a proactive fine collection program

• Recognize situations where a“fine is not fine”

• Join the TMCEC listserv ontraffic safety

• Approve adequate funding,staff, and support for your municipal court

• Speak to local civic groups on the importance of traffic safety

• Build community partnerships

• Set up a traffic safety exhibit

• Ask law enforcement officersand prosecutors to worktogether to identify at-riskdrivers in your community

• Create meaningful sentencingalternatives for repeat offenders, especially juveniles and minors using deferred disposition

• At the close of a trial aftersentencing, remind jurors andcourt observers of theimportance of compliance withtraffic laws

• Adopt a seat belt policy for allcity employees

• Participate annually in Municipal Court Week

What Can You Do?

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District Traffic Safety Specialists Contact ListThe Texas Municipal Courts Education Center is very appreciative of the traffic safety resources that the Texas De-partment of Transportation (TxDOT) shares with TMCEC and the municipal courts across the State of Texas.

The following is a list of the TxDOT District Traffic Safety Specialists (DTSS), their contact information, and the area that they serve. You may already be familiar with some of the DTSS on this list. If not, we encourage you to make contact with the DTSS in your area.

The DTSS have educational resources and can be present during special events and partner with you to educate the community on the importance of traffic safety.

District TSS Name Phone Fax

Abilene Brenda Mitchell (325) 676-6802 (325) 676-6901

Amarillo Tracy Tellman (806) 356-3295 (806) 356-3294

Atlanta Irene Webster (903) 799-1221 (903) 799-1288

Austin Sharon LittleJacque Magill

(512) 832-7035(512) 832-7253

(512) 832-7246(512) 832-7246

Beaumont Georgette Pillitere (409) 898-5719 (409) 898-5732

Brownwood Tina Crelia (325) 643-0465 (325) 643-0306

Bryan Terri Miller (979) 778-9779 (979) 778-9703

Childress Barbara Seal (940) 937-7288 (940) 937-7280

Corpus Christi Hazel Zepeda (361) 808-2381 (361) 808-2424

Dallas Pat HickmanSusan Clark

(214) 320-6235(214) 320-6220

(214) 320-6615(214) 320-6615

El Paso James Chesshire (915) 790-4384 (915) 790-4349

Ft. Worth Joel MallardKathy Neely

(817) 370-6618(817) 370-6626

(817) 370-3582(817) 370-3582

Houston Garry RandOlga Navarro

(713) 802-5187(713) 802-5177

(713) 802-5030(713) 802-5030

Laredo Veronica SolisBlanca Trevino-Castro

(956) 764-1212(956) 712-7410

(956) 764-1226(956) 712-7768

Lubbock Karen Peoples (806) 748-4478 (806) 748-4381

Lufkin Shirley Reynolds (936) 633-4321 (936) 633-4378

Odessa Robert Martinez (432) 498-4748 (432) 498-4680

Paris Jolita Norris (903) 737-9200 (903) 737-9204

Pharr Ruby Martinez (956) 782-2508 (956) 702-6110

San Angelo James Whitlock (325) 947-9271 (325) 947-9292

San Antonio Linda TomasiniSam Aquirre

(210) 615-5844(210) 615-5886

(210) 615-6115(210) 615-6115

Tyler Juanita Daniels-West (903) 510-9106 (903) 510-9188

Waco Cindy Parks (254) 867-2725 (254) 867-2772

Wichita Falls Patsy Walls (940) 720-7708 (940) 720-7707

Yoakum Rhonda MoormanSheri Jacobs

(361) 293-4331(361) 293-4428

(361) 293-4372(361) 293-4372

August 2010

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Get Involved... A Message from TMCAStatistics show that Texas has a distinctly significant traffic safety problem. In 2008, there were approximately 3,382 traffic related fatalities with 1,422 (42%) being speed related fatalities in Texas. In 2008, there were 61,954 serious injury crashes that resulted in 84,508 people sustaining a serious injury. There were no deathless days on Texas roadways in 2008. Motor vehicle crashes are also the leading cause of death for children of every age from 3 to 6 and 8 to 14 years old. In Texas in 2008, a total of 3,382 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes. Of those 1,269 fatalities, 38% occurred in alcohol-impaired driving crashes with a driver who had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of .08 or higher.

More Texans are killed in traffic crashes and alcohol-related crashes than any other state. In FY08, over five million cases (71%) of all cases adjudicated in Texas municipal courts involved non-parking traffic violations.

Municipal courts are the primary venue for adjudicating traffic related crimes in Texas. On behalf of the Texas Municipal Courts Association and Public Outreach Committee, I would like to encourage you to become involved in your community to address and work to increase traffic safety.

TMCA President,Judge Ed Spillane College Station

TMCEC has a speakers’ bureau. Knowledgeable speakers throughout the State can be drawn upon to speak in their community on the importance of traffic safety. There are resources, materials, and PowerPoint presentations that will assist you as you speak in the community, organize field trips and mock trials at your court, or as you provide outreach into your community, which are located on the TMCEC Municipal Traffic Safety Initiatives website at www.tmcec.com.

To place your name on the speakers’ bureau, please fax this form to TMCEC at 512.435.6118.

Add Me to the Speakers’ Bureau

Name: ________________________________ Court: ______________________________

Tel. #________________________ Email: ____________________________________________

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Presorted StandardU.S. Postage

PAIDAustin, TX

Permit No. 114

TEXAS MUNICIPAL COURTSEDUCATION CENTER

1609 SHOAL CREEK BLVD., SUITE 302AUSTIN, TX 78701www.tmcec.com

TMCEC MISSIONSTATEMENT

To provide high quality judicialeducation, technical assistance, and the necessary resource material to assist municipal court judges, court support personnel, and prosecutors in obtaining and maintaining professional competence.

1609 Shoal Creek Blvd.Suite 302

Austin, Texas78701

TELEPHONE:512.320.8274800.252.3718

FAX:512.435.6118

E-MAIL:[email protected]

TMCEC Municipal Traffic Safety

Initiatives

A grant from the Texas Department of Transporation has provided funding for a curriculum for grades K-3, four, seven, and high school government on traffic safety issues.

Driving on the Right Side of the Road is a collaborative effort between the Law-Related Education Department of the State Bar of Texas, Law Focused Education, Inc., Texas Municipal Courts Education Center, Texas Municipal Courts Association, regional education service centers, and teachers in local school districts.

Many of the activities and lessons are designed for use by a resource person in the classroom, such as a municipal judge, to provide information and to answer any questions that will arise.

The Texas Municipal Courts Association has set up a speakers’bureau to support teachers’ requests for resource persons. Email [email protected] if you are willing to speak in local classrooms.

The TMCEC website (www.tmcec.com) will contain sample presentations and PowerPoints, aswell as information sheets to help resource persons develop their presentations.

Generally the materials are only available to teachers who attend a training, although sample lessons will be made available on the TMCEC website, at the TMCEC regional programs in FY 11, and in The Recorder.

Driving on the Right Side of the Road

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