The Irvine Police Department has been awarded a $415,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long program of special enforcement and public awareness efforts to prevent traffic-related deaths and injuries. The traffic safety program is intended to educate the public on safe roadway habits and deter people from violating traffic laws or practicing other unsafe behaviors that lead to injuries and fatalities.
“Traffic safety continues to be a top priority of the Irvine Police Department,” Chief Mike Hamel said. “The grant funding provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety will enhance our efforts to teach traffic safety programs to our community, conduct ongoing high visibility traffic enforcement, and plan multiple sobriety checkpoints, all with the goal of enhancing traffic safety.”
The grant from OTS will fund various education and enforcement activities for the 2021 federal fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2021) including:
- DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols to take suspected alcohol/drug-impaired drivers – and those unlicensed or with a revoked/suspended license – off the road
- Traffic safety education presentations for youth and community members on distracted, impaired and teen driving, and bicycle/pedestrian safety
- Patrols at intersections with increased incidents of pedestrian and bike collisions
- Checking for seat belt and child safety seat compliance
- Motorcycle safety operations in areas with high rider volume and where higher rate of motorcycle crashes occur
- Speeding, red light, and stop sign enforcement
- Compilation of DUI “Hot Sheets” identifying repeat DUI offenders
- Specialized DUI and drugged driving training to identify and apprehend suspected impaired drivers
- Street racing enforcement and education
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
