EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE-California Highway Patrol officers Keith Bianco, Adam Woods, Wayne Goral, Sam Clarkson, Paul Varner and Robert Contreras received a Commander's Commendation. Their efforts enforcing traffic laws on local roads are saving lives, said Capt. Cliff Williams At the end of a routine California Highway Patrol officers' training session at the Moorpark Police Services Center in Moorpark on Wednesday, six members of the local CHP division received an award from Capt. Cliff Williams for a job well done.

"We've got a great group of officers out here," Williams said.

The officers received a Commander's Commendations because their efforts are making local roads safer for everyone. Their exceptional performance in the areas of seat belt, speeding and driving under the influence enforcement enhances public safety, Williams said.

The camaraderie was evident as a roomful of officers cheered for the awardees.

Officers Sam Clarkson, Wayne Goral, Adam Woods and Paul Varner, who work on the evening shift, took many unsafe intoxicated drivers off the road in recent months. The evening patrol officers honored this week are responsible for about half of the drunken-driving which most often occur on rural roads, according to Williams.

Their work translates into a 21

percent reduction in DUI related traffic collisions.

"They arrest the most dangerous drivers which limits accidents and deaths," said Williams.

Drunken-driving arrests increased from 394 for the first eight months last year to 635 during the same time this year.

The local CHP office, which patrols all of eastern Ventura County, recorded a 28 percent increase in overall arrests and a 62 percent increase in DUI related arrests compared to the same time last year. Regional statistics also show an 8 percent decrease in total traffic collisions, Williams said.

Officers Robert Contreras and Keith Bianco, who patrol the region during the day, also saved numerous lives by enforcing speed and seat belt laws.

Even drivers who don't wear their seat belts correctly-placing it under the shoulder instead of above-will be stopped, said Contrera, who has been working for the highway patrol for 10 years and came to the local station in May.

With a 22 percent increase in fatal collisions as compared to the previous year, Williams asked for the public's support and compliance with safety laws. "If more motorists slowed down, less lives would be lost," he said.

"Officers are not in the business of writing tickets but they are there to save lives," Williams said. He added that being a highway patrol officer is a dangerous job but a rewarding profession.

Officers primarily patrol freeways to keep the traffic flowing smoothly and also monitor rural roads in unincorporated county areas as well.

There are 28 full time officers currently covering the east county roads. The local captain hopes he will get some new recruits soon as the department is currently hiring new officers.

Visit www.chp.ca.gov for more information about a career with the state highway patrol. The job is diverse and it provides good pay and benefits, according to the local officers.