Crime & Safety

Gilroy Police Win $30K Grant for Traffic Enforcement

Expect more DUI patrols, motorcycle safety programs and distracted driving enforcement.

Contributed by Gilroy Police

The Gilroy Police Department has been awarded a $30,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long program aimed at preventing deaths and injuries on our roadways through special enforcement and public awareness efforts. The grant received by the City of Gilroy will aid in the city’s ongoing effort to improve traffic safety and the quality of life. The Gilroy Police Department will use the funding as part of an on-going commitment to keep our roadways safe through both enforcement and education. 

“Vehicle and pedestrian safety, DUI enforcement, and collision reduction are among the top priorities of the Gilroy Police Department. Our efforts in traffic enforcement and education have decreased crashes and increased driver awareness. We hope to continue these trends with the continuous dedication of our traffic division and the assistance of this grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety,” stated Denise Turner, Gilroy Chief of Police. 

The grant will assist in efforts to deal with traffic safety problems and to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in traffic collisions. While traffic deaths from all causes declined by nearly 39 percent between 2006 and 2010 in California, they rose by 2.6 percent in 2011. State and federal officials anticipate that figures will show another rise for 2012. DUI deaths remain the largest sector, at nearly 30 percent of traffic fatalities. Recent trends show increases in two new categories – distracted driving and drug-impaired driving. 

Activities that the grant will fund include: 

  • DUI Saturation Patrols 
  • Motorcycle safety enforcement 
  • Distracted driving enforcement 
  • Speed, red light and stop sign enforcement 
  • Warrant service operations targeting multiple DUI offenders 
  • Compilation of DUI “Hot Sheets,” identifying worst-of-the-worst DUI offenders 
  • Stakeout operations to observe the “worst of the worst” repeat DUI offender probationers with suspended or revoked driver licenses 

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


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