The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) has made a $250,000 grant to the Santa Monica Police Department for the purpose of reducing collision-related deaths and injuries in the City. Funding for this program was provided through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The grant will be used to operate a one-year Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP).
This all-inclusive traffic and safety grant is to be implemented using best-practice strategies, including the reduction of deaths and injuries in alcohol-related crashes.
Some of the programs to be implemented include: checkpoints and saturation patrols for DUI enforcement, including the recent October 26 operation (Santa Monica Mirror, October 25-31, 2007); red light, intersection, speed, and illegal street-racing equipment operations; and standardized field sobriety training and illegal street-racing equipment inspection training for the City’s police officers. The grant will also be used to purchase specialized equipment including mobile citation devices and software, additional preliminary alcohol screening devices, and laser devices for speed enforcement.
