The Colton Police Department has been awarded a $170,700 grant from Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for the fiscal year 2020-21.
The OTS is California’s lead traffic safety organization that uses federal highway safety program funds to provide funding for traffic programs to help reduce the number of deaths, injuries and economic losses resulting from traffic-related collisions.
The OTS grant will provide funding for traffic enforcement programs. These programs include DUI checkpoints, DUI saturation patrols, distracted driving enforcement operations, night time “Click it or Ticket” programs, and pedestrian safety enforcement operations, according to City agenda item.
The OTS grant has also provided for training and educational materials, as well as equipment, to assist officers in increasing traffic safety and reducing alcohol-related traffic incidents. The continuing enforcement details spread out over the grant period and making use of the related equipment will serve to increase traffic safety in the City of Colton.
Additionally, the OTS grant will provide $35,000 for a DUI checkpoint equipment trailer; $3,300 for in-state travel and training expenses; and $1,000 for DUI checkpoint supplies.
The City has experienced multiple traffic-related injury collisions throughout the years. The number of DUI and speed-related enforcement conducted is inversely proportional to the number of crimes and calls that service officers must handle. The City of Colton has an abundance of establishments where alcohol is served or sold and the number of DUI drivers has not diminished. In addition, speed-related issues are amongst the majority of complaints received from the community.