The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station’s Traffic Office mounted a speed enforcement operation in the city of Santa Clarita Thursday, and cited 53 motorists while dodging rain and aiding firefighters with traffic control.

Here’s more of the story from the Station:

All five of our motor deputies and a traffic patrol car were working the operation, with the additional assistance of three motor deputies that came from other patrol stations.

When they held their afternoon briefing prior to deploying in the field, they had no idea that shortly after embarking on their mission, there would be fires, rain, and then more fires! During their operation, six of the motor deputies were pulled for 4 hours from the field to assist with traffic control at the site of the fires!

But, we’re happy to let you know that despite EVERYTHING that was thrown their way, they STILL cited 53 motorists during the operation!

Thirty-three motorists were cited for unsafe speed; 16 for using a cell phone (texting while driving or talking with cell phone in hand); two for unsafe turn violations; for vehicle equipment violation, and one for following an emergency vehicle too closely.

The emergency vehicle was a fire engine that had its lights and sirens on, and was responding to one of our local fires.

As a reminder, California Vehicle Code 21706 CVC states: “No motor vehicle, except an authorized emergency vehicle, shall follow within 300 feet of any authorized emergency vehicle.”