Police Receive Grant to Improve Roadway Safety

A new state grant is expected to help the Newport Beach Police Department reduce deaths and injuries on the roadways, officials reported.

The $110,000 grant was awarded to the Newport Beach Police Department by the California Office of Traffic Safety for a year-long program aimed at tightening the belt on distracted and impaired drivers. According to a news release, the grant will pay for the department to train officers in Drug and Alcohol Recognition, DUI saturation patrols, motorcycle safety enforcement, distracted driving enforcement and traffic enforcement operations targeting speeding, red light runners and stop sign enforcement.

"The Newport Beach Police Department is committed to using the funds provided through the Office of Traffic Safety to have more officers patrolling our roadways, in an effort to combat impaired driving,” Newport Beach police Sgt. Spencer Arnold said.

According to OTS officials, DUI deaths remain the largest sector at nearly 30 percent of traffic fatalities with recent trends showing an increase in distracted driving and drug-impaired driving.

Christopher J. Murphy, OTS director, said, "the Newport Beach Police Department will be keeping the pressure on through enforcement and public awareness so that we can continue saving lives.”