News

Morgan Hill Police and agencies that participated in a morning crackdown on traffic violations earlier this week issued nearly 200 tickets in a four-hour period, according to authorities.During the special operation, which took place 7 to 11 a.m. April 26 in the city limits of Morgan Hill, officers wrote between 190 and 200 citations for various traffic violations, according to MHPD Cpl. Scott Silva. He said Thursday he is waiting for final numbers from a couple other participating agencies.Officers from Campbell, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara County, Mountain View, Milpitas, San Jose, Santa Clara and Los Altos law enforcement agencies joined MPHD officers in the April 26 traffic enforcement crackdown. The aim of the operation was to “conduct a high-visibility traffic enforcement effort” in an effort to reduce pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle collisions, according to police.Silva said most of the citations written to motorists during the special operation were for speeding. Other common violations cited included running stop signs, and failing to stop for a school bus stop sign.Similar operations will take place monthly throughout the year in other communities, rotating through participating agencies, police said.The April 26 effort in Morgan Hill was organized by Silva, MHPD Officer John Kuhlen, Officer Sergio Pires and Sgt. Troy Hoefling.The operation was indeed highly visible as authorities planned. Comments of praise and complaint filled social media pages on the morning of April 26, as many residents left their homes to be almost immediately flooded with the sight of a blanket of police officers.Some commenters were pleased to see the active enforcement, while others thought it was an overkill of misplaced public resources.A Times reader who wanted to remain anonymous described the saturation of police as “harassment,” and said he had to “go through the gauntlet” of officers when he exited his neighborhood on the way to work April 26. He said his wife was pulled over and written up for going 5 mph over the speed limit.“I had to go through three speed traps just getting out of Morgan Hill,” the reader said.Distracted driving violations up in AprilThe month of April has been a busy one for MHPD, as the month has been declared by law enforcement agencies nationwide as Distracted Driving Awareness Month.Morgan Hill officers have written almost 300 citations for distracted driving in April so far, Silva said. These violations primarily consist of drivers using their cell phones while driving.  

For Larry DeMoss, time is ticking towards retirement, but like the hundreds of timepieces on display in his store, he's not slowing down yet.

Immigration, housing and a state road in terrible disrepair topped the agenda when elected officials from just about every level gathered in Gilroy to share views on key issues facing city, county, state and federal governments and constituents.

High up on Pacheco Pass, Danny Rubalcava, 33, has a few inches with which to work. Those few inches separate this Bracco’s tow truck driver from speeding semi-trucks, distracted teens on their cell phones and drunk drivers--or those who just rubberneck at accidents and cause others. It's like fixing a tiger's cage, from the inside.

Not long ago, at a concert or something like that, Margaret Myers of Gilroy caught sight of a big group of women dressed in purple and wearing red hats, each more outlandish than the next, with feathers and flowers and ribbons and bows.

William Harmon, 26, died Monday on Highway 101 after his motorcycle hit a delivery truck around 4 p.m., just before the exit for Highway 25.

A major curve realignment project near Aromas will continue on a ½-mile section of eastbound and westbound Hwy. 129 near the Santa Cruz/San Benito County line with a five-day full closure beginning Sunday, April 30 at 9 pm until Friday May 5 at 11 pm.

Gilroy has a new attraction that will have area kids jumping for joy.

Paul Hain, 63, owns and operates Hain Ranch Organics, a 20-acre organic walnut farm on Tres Pinos Creek near Hollister and was a lifelong Republican until the nomination of Donald Trump.