RWC Police Department Awarded Anti-DUI Safety Grants

[Editor's note: The following was submitted by the City of Redwood City.]

The Redwood City Police Department has been awarded two new traffic safety grants for anti-DUI and traffic enforcement programs aimed at preventing deaths and injuries on Redwood City roadways.

Enforcement measures to combat impaired and unsafe driving are coming as a result of two recent grants awarded by the California Office of Traffic Safety to Redwood City totaling $105,984.00. The Redwood City Police Department is dedicated to keeping our streets safe through both enforcement and education. 

“We are pleased to have received these grants from the Office of Traffic Safety,” said Chief JR Gamez.

“These funds allow the Redwood City Police Department to further enhance the safety of our community through additional educational and enforcement programs.” 

These special grants will assist in efforts to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol and other drug related collisions in the community. The grant activities will specifically target impaired driving offenders and other unsafe driving practices as well as educate the public on the dangers of impaired driving. When possible, specially trained officers will be available to evaluate those suspected of drug-impaired driving. 

Drunk and drugged driving violations are among America’s deadliest crimes. In 2011, a modern-day low 774 people were killed and over 24,000 injured in alcohol and drug-impaired crashes in California.

Over the past year, Redwood City experienced two persons killed and 15 injured in these tragic crashes. Crashes involving alcohol have been shown to drop by up to 20 percent when well-publicized checkpoints are conducted often enough. Checkpoints have proven to be the most effective of any of the DUI enforcement strategies, while yielding considerable cost savings of $6 for every $1 spent and are supported by nearly 90 percent of California drivers.

In addition to checkpoints, the Redwood City Police Department will be conducting DUI saturation patrols, DUI warrant service operations, and targeted enforcement efforts concentrating on speed violations, aggressive driving, seat belt enforcement, distracted driving, intersections with high collision rates, and motorcycle safety. 

Funding for this program is from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.