SANTA MONICA—On November 7, 2008 the Santa Monica Police Department was awarded a $59,500 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for reducing the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol involved crashes in Santa Monica. The Santa Monica Police Department will use the money to continue reducing the number of deaths and injuries caused by DUI drivers. The $59,500 grant will especially be used to operate the one-year DUI Enforcement and Awareness Program.

“With the cooperation of the California Office of Traffic Safety we are able to put additional resources on this very serious problem,” Captain Al Venegas said.

 

Photo courtesy to www.oats.ca.gov

The one-year program will include check points and saturation patrols for DUI enforcement, a “hot sheet” program to identify repeat DUI offenders and standardized field sobriety training for Santa Monica police officers. Some of the money will also be used to buy the supplies needed for the sobriety check points and also educational materials informing the public on traffic safety.

“Impaired driving is a serious crime that kills and injures thousands every year in California. This grant will help get drunk drivers off the roadways of Santa Monica, making it safer for everyone," said Christopher J. Murphy, director of the Office of the Traffic Safety.