Irvine, Calif. (October 23, 2024) – The Irvine Police Department has been awarded $497,410 in grant funds from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). The funding will provide special traffic enforcement, community outreach, and enhanced traffic safety programs in our community through September 30, 2025.
"We appreciate our continued partnership with OTS," Chief Michael Kent said. "Providing education, addressing traffic concerns, and reducing collisions on our roadways will always be a top priority."
Program goals:
- DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols to remove drivers that are unlicensed, driving with a suspended or revoked license, or suspected of being alcohol/drug-impaired from 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.
- Motorcycle safety operations in areas with high rider volume and higher rates of motorcycle collisions.
- Motorcycle safety training for Irvine residents.
- Speeding, red light, and stop sign enforcement.
- Compilation of DUI data to identify repeat DUI offenders.
- Specialized alcohol and drug-impaired driving training to identify and arrest suspected DUI drivers.
The grant funding includes a $27,410 grant to support our child passenger safety program. Funding will be used for car seat/ booster seat education, officer training, and purchasing child safety seats to distribute to families in need.
The OTS grants were funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.