Santa Maria Police Department awarded a $340k Grant to deter unsafe behaviors and increase road safety
SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- The Santa Maria Police Department was awarded a $340,000.00 grant to deter unsafe behaviors and increase safety on the roads.
The grant will be used to support ongoing traffic safety efforts in the community, intent to stop unlawful and dangerous behavior and to create a safer environment for drivers.
“Some of the training will be used to train officers to be drug recognition experts, which will allow them to, when they find a driver who's impaired, to recognize if they're under the influence of cannabis or another drug while driving", said Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley Director, Edwin Weaver.
The city of Arroyo Grande was also awarded $58,000 for the same program -- to deter unsafe behaviors and increase road safety.
“They can do it, they can have more policing, especially around schools because children need the most care and attention", said Santa Maria local Nesthro Contreras.
The grant will also provide additional programs and resources including; DUI checkpoints, High visibility driving enforcement, enforcement of dangerous violations, and officer training and/or recertifications.
“I see that all the time. People on their cell phones you know especially out lights and that I've had to honk the horn because a light a go all the way through because they’re on their cell phone", said Santa Maria local Jack Squires.
The grant was funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and will run until September 2023.
