By EDWARD SIFUENTES esifuentes@nctimes.com
North County law enforcement agencies were awarded more than $550,000 in combined grants to conduct sobriety checkpoints and other traffic-safety operations in fiscal year 2012-13, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety.
The federal funds will allow agencies to deter impaired driving, encourage use of seat belts and child safety seats, officials said. Law enforcement agencies statewide will receive a total of $77 million, divided into 252 traffic-safety grants.
Additionally, some agencies will get grants to pay for sobriety and driver's license checkpoints, officials said.
"We all came a long way in California in recent years, with thousands of lives saved," said Christopher Murphy, director of the Office of Traffic Safety. "But with thousands still dying and tens of thousands being injured, there is an ongoing need for the multifaceted approach provided by these grants."
In North County, the Escondido Police Department will get the most funding, according to the state. The department will get a $70,000 grant for traffic-safety operations, such as saturation patrols. It will also get a $188,000 grant to pay for sobriety and driver's license checkpoints, said Chris Chocran, a spokesman for the Office of Traffic Safety.
Last year, Escondido received a total of about $335,000 in traffic safety and checkpoint grants, said Escondido police Lt. Tom Albergo.
Albergo said the department would conduct roughly the same number of operations but more emphasis would be given next year to enforcement efforts that focus on reducing distracted driving, such as using cellphones while driving.
The Oceanside Police Department will receive an $81,763 grant for traffic safety enforcement operations and a $103,600 grant for sobriety checkpoints, according to the state.
Other agencies that will also receive grants for sobriety checkpoints are:
The traffic safety grants come from the state's Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, which allows agencies to conduct various enforcement efforts aimed at everything from pedestrian safety to motorcycle and bicycle safety operations, Cochran said.
The checkpoint grants come to the agencies through the Safe Transportation Research and Education Center at UC Berkeley.
The federal funds will allow agencies to deter impaired driving, encourage use of seat belts and child safety seats, officials said. Law enforcement agencies statewide will receive a total of $77 million, divided into 252 traffic-safety grants.
Additionally, some agencies will get grants to pay for sobriety and driver's license checkpoints, officials said.
"We all came a long way in California in recent years, with thousands of lives saved," said Christopher Murphy, director of the Office of Traffic Safety. "But with thousands still dying and tens of thousands being injured, there is an ongoing need for the multifaceted approach provided by these grants."
In North County, the Escondido Police Department will get the most funding, according to the state. The department will get a $70,000 grant for traffic-safety operations, such as saturation patrols. It will also get a $188,000 grant to pay for sobriety and driver's license checkpoints, said Chris Chocran, a spokesman for the Office of Traffic Safety.
Last year, Escondido received a total of about $335,000 in traffic safety and checkpoint grants, said Escondido police Lt. Tom Albergo.
Albergo said the department would conduct roughly the same number of operations but more emphasis would be given next year to enforcement efforts that focus on reducing distracted driving, such as using cellphones while driving.
The Oceanside Police Department will receive an $81,763 grant for traffic safety enforcement operations and a $103,600 grant for sobriety checkpoints, according to the state.
Other agencies that will also receive grants for sobriety checkpoints are:
- Del Mar, Encinitas and Solana Beach sheriff's stations; $42,000;
- San Marcos Sheriff's Station; $37,500;
- Vista Sheriff's Station; $30,400.
The traffic safety grants come from the state's Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, which allows agencies to conduct various enforcement efforts aimed at everything from pedestrian safety to motorcycle and bicycle safety operations, Cochran said.
The checkpoint grants come to the agencies through the Safe Transportation Research and Education Center at UC Berkeley.