Wrriten by Art Vandelay
The Montebello Police Department has recently been awarded a $100,000 grant by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), to fund a year long program for special enforcements, and to make the public more aware of traffic related deaths and injuries. Chief of Police Kevin L. McClure stated, “The funds awarded to the Montebello Police Department by OTS will enhance our ability to make the roadways of Montebello safer for our residents. The grant funding will provide the necessary resources to educate the community on traffic safety, as well as take enforcement action to reduce traffic accidents and fatalities.” According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,176 persons were killed in the state of California in 2015. A near 17% increase since 2010. The OTS grant will provide funding to combat drunk driving, speeding, and crashes in intersections among other traffic related items.
The grant will fund activities including:
-
Educational presentations
-
DUI checkpoints
-
DUI saturation patrols
-
Bicycle and pedestrian safety enforcement
-
Motorcycle safety enforcement
-
Distracted driving enforcement
-
Seat belt and child safety seat enforcement
-
Speed, red light, and stop sign enforcement
-
Warrant service operations targeting multiple DUI offenders
-
Compilation of DUI “Hot Sheets,” identifying worst-of-the-worst DUI offenders
-
Specialized DUI and drugged driving training such as Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE), and Drug Recognition Evaluator (DRE)
-
Court “sting” operations to cite individuals driving from DUI court after ignoring their license suspension or revocation
- Stakeout operations to observe the “worst-of-the-worst” repeat DUI offender probationers with suspended or revoked driver licenses