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Scottsdale police outline traffic-enforcement tactics, defend city-run camera program
Summary
Lieutenant Christopher Diapiazza told the Transportation Commission that Scottsdale uses motorcycle units, a DUI squad, crash reconstruction and a photo enforcement program (11 fixed sites, 4 mobile towers) to target high-crash locations and distracted drivers; commissioners pressed for data, e-bike enforcement details and why cameras carry warning signs.
Lieutenant Christopher Diapiazza of the Scottsdale Police Department told the Transportation Commission that the department dedicates a traffic enforcement section to crash reduction and targeted enforcement.
“Our general patrol staff is approximately a 160 officers,” Diapiazza said, and added the traffic section includes DUI, motorcycle units and a crash-reconstruction team that responds to serious-injury and fatal crashes. He described 11 static photo-enforcement locations at 10 intersections and four mobile photo-enforcement towers and said those tools are rotated to target high-volume or high-crash approaches.
The presentation emphasized both enforcement and education. Diapiazza described a long-running public outreach effort — including a Scottsdale PIO-led communications strategy and school partnerships — and said behavior change is the program’s stated goal. He highlighted the department’s “know your limits” portable-breath-test detail at entertainment districts and said those interactions often persuade people to use rideshares instead of driving.
Commissioners pressed staff on how enforcement works in practice. On whether camera citations are issued by a third party, Diapiazza replied: “It is not a third party issuing the citations. It is a police department employee, at times police officers who are issuing those citations.” He urged that the program is intended for behavior modification and noted that some reviews result in notices of violation rather than citations when the driver cannot be positively identified.
On distracted-driving enforcement, Diapiazza explained motorcycle officers can often see into vehicle windows and will follow up when they observe handheld-phone use or unsafe driving. He said officers have discretion on traffic stops and sometimes opt for an informational conversation rather than a citation to achieve behavior change.
Commissioners asked about e-bike enforcement and classification. Diapiazza said Scottsdale worked with the city attorney and state officials to produce an identification flowchart posted on scottsdaleaz.gov; officers carry printed guidance and may impound devices or issue citations if riders violate city code. He referenced City ordinance 17-771 as the local code that sets rules for e-bike operation in Scottsdale.
Several commissioners requested follow-up data. Diapiazza said the department can provide multi-year trend information and explained that photo-enforcement data (volume and percentage of vehicles exceeding thresholds) is shared weekly with officers and district teams to guide targeted enforcement.
The presentation prompted discussion about warning signage. Commissioners observed drivers brake sharply on approach to camera signs; Diapiazza said the signs are required by state law at certain speed thresholds and reiterated that citations are issued when vehicles still exceed the program’s enforcement threshold (about 11 mph over posted limits at some sites).
The commission did not take formal action on enforcement programs at the meeting; staff said additional statistics and trend data would be supplied after the meeting.
