Carmel residents note quieter Car Week as police report increased enforcement, tell me about this news today

Residents in Carmel-by-the-Sea noted a significantly quieter and calmer Monterey Car Week, a shift that local law enforcement attributes to doubled police enforcement and targeted messaging.

During a community listening session and council update, Police Chief Todd Traeger reported that the department doubled its enforcement efforts during the high-profile automotive event. Data from the city’s license-plate readers (LPR) backed up the observations, recording roughly 15,000 fewer reads compared to previous years.

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While the increased police presence and zero-tolerance approach successfully resulted in more peaceful downtown nights and fewer major disruptions, the event still sparked local discussions. Some small-business owners voiced concerns that the stricter environment and traffic controls impacted late-summer business revenues, while residents continued to press city officials for long-term safety measuressuch as speed bumps and designated no-parking zonesto address traffic bottlenecks during large annual events.

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