MURRIETA -- Drivers in too much of a hurry on Washington Avenue got a surprise Friday morning: Murrieta police were pulling speeders over and issuing tickets as part of a program to reduce speeding in the city, they say.

Officers who have investigated accidents found that speeding was too often the cause, Murrieta police Cpl. Jay Froboese said Friday. Based on that, police Chief Mark Wright authorized 500 hours of overtime -- about $30,000 -- for a Safe Streets program, Froboese said.

That overtime will allow traffic division officers to extend their working day by two hours over the next 90 days so they can aggressively address the problem of speeding, he said.

Froboese said he, Hadden and officer Dave Christensen issued 26 tickets Friday between about 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m at different locations throughout the city.

On Washington north of Kalmia Street, the speed limit is 40 mph. Within 50 minutes Friday morning, three motorcycle officers on Washington at Alexandria Drive issued 13 tickets -- all for drivers exceeding 55 mph, he said.

The fact that all of the tickets were at for least 15 mph over the speed limit shows there is a speeding problem in the city, Froboese said.

Most drivers who would comment said they did not realize how fast they were going. One, who did not want to be identified, did not believe he was going 59 mph, so Sgt. Sean Hadden showed him the reading on his laser gun.

"Then he apologized," Hadden said.

Ticketed driver Joshua Almasin of Wildomar said he thought he was driving the speed limit. Almasin, 17, said the ticket was his first and he was concerned he would lose his driving privilege.

Another ticketed driver, Holly Roe, 40, of Corona, said she didn't believe she was going 59 mph.

"I don't think I was going that fast," Roe said.

But the officers' efforts drew praise from some residents.

Hadden said one resident bought soft drinks for him and Froboese as they pulled people over on Washington Thursday evening. The woman said she wanted to express her appreciation because residents in her neighborhood off of Washington have a hard time pulling out on to the busy street from their subdivision because drivers on Washington go so fast, he said.

Friday morning, the Clanton family, who live near Washington at Calle Del Oso Oro, expressed a similar sentiment.

"We're happy to see that they are doing this," Brandon Clanton said as he and his wife and children walked along Washington.

Washington is bad, but Calle Del Oso Oro is worse, Clanton said. Froboese said the department is planning to work that area as well.

In addition, the department will extend its motorcycle patrol hours to cover the evening commute, which usually does not get covered, and occasional weekends, he said. The department plans to focus on heavily used connector roads in the city, such as Washington, Clinton Keith Road and California Oaks Road, Froboese said.

The Safe Streets program started April 1, but did not take off right away because of the rain last week, he said. Thursday was the first day motor officers were really able to start, Froboese said. The program is scheduled to end June 30.

Contact staff writer Laura Mitchell at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2621, or lmitchell@californian.com.