Monday, June 29, 2026 Sign In

Traffic Stop Block

Can someone in the Santa Barbara Police Department please explain to me why creating a traffic hazard is the norm when issuing tickets?

Can someone in the Santa Barbara Police Department (SBPD) please explain to me why creating a traffic hazard is the norm when issuing tickets? This is a genuine question.

On a recent Tuesday afternoon three police officers were issuing a traffic ticket on Haley Street, and one lane was blocked by the police vehicle, causing everyone to merge into one lane. I asked the two police officers that were observing the issuing officer if they could park the vehicle along the curb, which is a designated parking spot. “We don’t park in parking spots ma’am” was the response I got.

Really? This is something I have noticed over and over again. I don’t get it, but maybe there’s a reason?