Setcom Says

California Office of Traffic Safety

Summit 2009 April 8-10th, 2009

For those of you who get updates from the blog and don’t know me, my name is Charlie Buttermann and I’m one the Account Executives for the company. I’ve been with Setcom since 2007 and have learned a great deal about the public safety market from a business perspective as well as from an occupational perspective. My appreciation for the daily work that goes into being a police motor officer has grown and it fuels my passion for my work and the work our company does. It was a great opportunity to attend the OTS Conference to see a little more about what is really driving the market for new technologies and also the wide array of presentations about trends in law enforcement and safety. I have to say that the OTS folks did a really great job of putting on the conference not only for the vendors but also for the attendees. Because officer safety is so important, I thought it was very encouraging to hear so much about topics related to the day-to-day work through the lens of improved safety and awareness.

Because I live in San Francisco, it was an easy MUNI ride down to the Marriott Hotel in downtown San Francisco for the conference. The staff at the hotel was very helpful and I think were sincerely glad to have the police professionals and the OTS conference there. I had a chance to speak with other vendors at the conference and I got a sense that much of the technology and products coming out of our market is focused on three main areas:

1. Improved accuracy and performance. Much of the technology I saw improved on existing equipment (speed detection, data collection) but in innovative and interesting ways. For example, I saw speed detection guns that have built in cameras so that while it’s getting a reading for speed, it is simultaneously taking a picture of the potential offender’s license plate. I thought this was interesting because it seems like this could cut down the amount of time in the back end of traffic enforcement; to make it more efficient and streamlined. This would certainly allow officers more time to focus on the tasks at hand and not as much on the back end paperwork aspect of it.
2. Awareness and enforcement of traffic laws. In terms of awareness and enforcement of traffic laws, I thought it was really interesting to read through summaries and talk with attendees and presenters about topics related to law enforcement. At one of the lunches I had the privilege of talking with a couple folks associated with bicycle and pedestrian safety in California. It was very interesting to hear about how cities deal with realistic enforcement of laws while contending with growth and additional people on the roadways who aren’t necessarily in a car. In San Francisco, this is a sensitive issue because of the amount of bicycles on the streets and also the sheer amount of pedestrians everywhere. It seems only logical that proper enforcement comes from greater awareness by the public of safety laws. The question of how that’s done sparked a great deal of spirited discussion – how to use public funds in a way that’s not only effective on message but cost effective for getting the message across.
3. Safety. Because the entire conference was really centered on safety, there were many different topics that came up. There were presentations about new car owners, new drivers (teenagers), senior drivers, hands free technology and safety in driving, motorcycles in traffic and of particular interest to me, DUI enforcement, checkpoints and female DUI arrests. This topic interests me because I lost a family friend to a drunk driving accident when I was much younger and have always thought it was a tragedy that could have been prevented. The level of seriousness when it comes to not only the safety of the motor officer but also of the driver in DUI enforcement was encouraging. If you are an officer on a suspected DUI traffic stop, you are very literally putting your life on the line. There are many variables to consider in this situation but the underlying message is awareness and prevention. This may seem obvious, but so much of what I heard focused on how to talk to new drivers about drinking and driving, how to present the message to the public in a way that sticks. There are many potential answers to this very difficult question but it is good to know that some very bright and passionate people are working hard at it. If we can prevent drunk driving accidents and protect the safety of officers on the roads through this work, it is very worthwhile. I encourage anyone reading to investigate what programs are in place in your area to curb drunk driving and raise awareness. Whether its share-a-ride, designated driver programs, anything really, if you’re able to get involved to help protect everyone on the roadway, its time well spent.

Overall I thought the conference was very well organized, run and executed. I enjoyed meeting and talking with many officers from all different areas of the state. The sense I get from being in this industry and from working face to face with officers is a sincere and earnest regard for public safety. Every profession has a spectrum of personalities but I really do think that the underlying driving force for all motor officers and law enforcement personnel I work with is a dedication to the public safety and the public good. I personally am proud every day to be a part of that and I take my hat off to not only the OTS staff but to the attendees for their focus and work on these issues.