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Residents press Colfax leaders on speeding, e‑bike and summer traffic; CHP and Cal Fire outline enforcement and burn‑permit plans
Summary
Residents told council of repeated high‑speed traffic near the Fruit Exchange and dangerous e‑bike behavior; Gold Run CHP and CAL FIRE presented enforcement statistics and summer operational plans including construction disruptions, aircraft availability and new online burn‑permit rules.
Residents and business owners told the council they are seeing dangerously fast driving through downtown and near Railroad Street at school release times, with one business owner saying “these people are gonna fly through here” and warning the council that someone could be seriously hurt.
Officer Jason Lyman, public information officer for Gold Run CHP, presented enforcement data and summer guidance: in March CHP reported 1,008 citations and 1,442 enforcement contacts (287 motor services, 16 arrests, 13 DUI‑related collisions; 14 collisions total) and in April issued 751 citations and 1,173 enforcement contacts (263 motor services, 20 arrests, 11 DUI‑related; 25 collisions total). Lyman warned that ongoing Highway 80/20 construction and a bridge demolition will reduce lanes and produce heavy delays through the summer.
Residents also detailed a weekly pattern of e‑bike and minibike riders using sidewalks and crosswalks unsafely; one resident described chasing a child on a minibike who nearly struck pedestrians and said video showed the rider losing control. Officials noted the county has seen similar problems and that ticketing, towing and parental liability enforcement are being used; deputies urged citizens to document incidents and use the nonemergency dispatch number (530‑886‑5375) so the department can log complaints and better allocate limited patrol resources.
Clint Seibert of CAL FIRE and Placer County Fire said the department is at peak staffing, expects aircraft to begin coming online June 17, and has planned multiple fuel‑reduction projects including broadcast burns (examples: 21–25 acres initially, with potential for additional acreage later). He also said residential burn permits now require online applications and larger broadcast burns use LE‑5/LE‑7 forms followed by site inspection.
Council and staff said they will continue coordination with CHP and Caltrans about signage and enforcement plans, encourage residents to submit documented complaints and consider ordinance options for e‑bikes and minors if education and enforcement do not reduce risky behavior.
