Politics & Government
Newark Accepts Money To Crack Down on DUI
Law enforcement officials will be on alert for people who have had too much holiday spirits.
Newark Police will be saturating the streets with officers and erecting sobriety checkpoints this holiday season, with thousands of dollars in financial assistance from the California Office of Traffic Safety.
Police Chief James Leal accepted $11,665 in grant funding to bolster a countywide DUI campaign called “Avoid the 21.” 21 is the number of law enforcement agencies in Alameda County that are participating in the endeavor.
The state's Office of Traffic Safety has sponsored this initiative with the Alameda County Chiefs of Police Association since 2008, contributing a total of $91,641 to the Newark Police Department over the past five years, according to city staff reports. The money will be used to pay for overtime staff costs and create dedicated DUI enforcement units according to Newark PD, according to city staff reports.
Newark City Council approved accepting the funds with a 4-0 vote, with one councilmember absent on October 24.
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