The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety recently awarded the Peoria Police Department $189,721 in grants to help increase DUI enforcement, traffic enforcement and education in and around Peoria.
Each of the grants allows the department to conduct additional enforcement throughout the fiscal year by participating in saturation patrols and selective traffic enforcement details focusing on speeding, red-light running and DUI enforcement.
In addition, some of these grants will allow the Peoria Police Department to purchase equipment that will assist in the reconstruction of serious injury and fatal collision investigations.
The department will use $42,827 of the grant funds to continue to improve the enforcement of traffic safety laws intended to reduce death, injury, property damage and promote roadway safety, along with deterring aggressive and distracted drivers.
The funds will also provide for continuing education that increases the public’s awareness associated with the dangers of speeding and aggressive/distracted driving, as well as continue to provide training and updates on traffic laws to officers.
The department will utilize $83,240 of the grant funds to reduce impaired driving, which is a high-priority objective for Arizona. Effective enforcement is an essential countermeasure to reducing DUI offenses and the deadly crashes that can be associated with impaired drivers. Driving while under the influence can carry a hefty price tag, including criminal and legal expenses, property damage and, more importantly, death.
Peoria will use $22,309 of the grant funds to promote motorcycle safety in and around the city. This funding will allow Peoria police motorcycle officers to provide instruction to intermediate riders and further promote safe riding habits. Two motorcycle safety courses will be offered for free to the riding public this year. Officers will continue to address motorcycle safety through education and enforcement utilizing these funds.
Peoria police will utilize $35,313 to help increase pedestrian, school zone, school bus and bicycle safety in the city.
This funding will allow Peoria police officers to focus their time on making the roadways safe for pedestrians. The Peoria Police Department plans to utilize grant funding for overtime enforcement and provide educational awareness about the traffic laws and safety rules in these areas. This grant will also allow the department to continue its Bicycle Safety Partnership by providing instruction to grade school students as well as hosting multiple Bicycle Safety Rodeos throughout the city.
The final $6,032 will go toward purchasing equipment and training on it regarding the reconstruction of serious injury and fatal traffic collisions. This evidence is an essential part of the reconstruction and helps investigators better understand the circumstances that led up to and had an aspect in the collision.
This funding will allow Peoria police officers to provide a multi-faceted approach to traffic safety through education, deterrence and aggressive enforcement of our state traffic and DUI laws.