The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) announced today that it has received a $400K grant for special traffic enforcement and crash prevention.

The grant, provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), is aimed toward providing a year-long program of special enforcements and public awareness efforts to prevent traffic-related deaths and injuries, the LBPD said.

“I’m proud that our public safety officers have taken a leadership role in partnering with the State to support traffic safety, and our city is grateful for their work on this important issue,” said Mayor Robert Garcia in a statement.

LBPD Chief Jim McDonnell said the grant will allow the LBPD to enhance its ability to draw community focus toward the dangers of impaired driving.

The LBPD said activities that the grant will fund include:

    • Educational presentations
    • DUI checkpoints
    • DUI saturation patrols
    • Motorcycle safety enforcement
    • Distracted driving enforcement
    • Seat belt and child safety seat enforcement
    • Speed, red light, and stop sign enforcement
    • Compilation of DUI “Hot Sheets,” identifying worst-of-the-worst DUI offenders
    • Specialized DUI and drugged driving training such as Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE), and Drug Recognition Evaluator (DRE)