Full Notification

The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) awarded the Cypress Police Department a $60,000 grant for a year-long traffic enforcement and public awareness program. The program is intended to educate the public on safe roadway habits and deter people from violating traffic laws or practicing other unsafe behaviors that lead to injuries and fatalities.

“Traffic safety is a top priority for our community. This grant will allow for more traffic safety-related enforcement and educational opportunities that will improve the quality of life for our residents and visitors,” said Mayor Stacy Berry.

The grant will fund various education and enforcement activities during the 2020 federal fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2019 to Sept. 30, 2020), including:

• DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols to take suspected alcohol and drug-impaired drivers – and those unlicensed or with a revoked/suspended license – off the road.
• Traffic safety education presentations for youth and community members on distracted, impaired and teen driving, and bicycle & pedestrian safety.
• Additional patrol in areas with increased incidents of pedestrian and bike collisions.
• Speeding, red light and stop sign enforcement.
• Compilation of DUI “Hot Sheets” identifying repeat DUI offenders.
• Probation supervision for high-risk DUI offenders.
• Specialized training to identify and apprehend suspected impaired drivers.

In 2017, 3,602 people lost their lives in crashes across the state. This number marks a 6 percent decrease from 2016 but still averaged almost ten deaths every day. Impaired driving, speeding, unsafe pedestrian behavior and distracted driving were factors in a large number of these fatalities; this grant funding will provide opportunities to reduce those dangerous and illegal behaviors.




According to Cypress Police Chief, Rod Cox, “The Cypress Police Department is continuously seeking innovative solutions to keep the community safe. This partnership with the Office of Traffic Safety will allow us to innovate by putting more resources into our 2019 Traffic Safety Plan.”

“We are making great progress toward eliminating deaths and injuries on our roads but getting in a car remains one of the most dangerous things people do,” OTS director Barbara Rooney said. “Reaching the road to zero takes a concerted effort with our traffic safety partners.”

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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Media inquiries should be directed to Sergeant Scott Ausmus at (714) 229-6624 or via email at [email protected]. Press releases are distributed via a mass notification email list as well as being posted on our web site and on the Cypress Police Department smartphone free application. Postings to the web site are sometimes delayed due to weekend or after hour releases. If not already on the email roster, you can register to receive the press releases by going to Press Release Registration. Press releases are also posted on Nixle.com. To register for Nixle, please visit www.nixle.com. You can also follow the Cypress Police Department on Twitter under Cypress_PD_PIO. It is the goal of the Cypress Police Department to provide prompt and accurate information to the public via a multitude of media outlets. Information can be anonymously provided to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCSS (1-855-847-6227) or at www.occrimestoppers.org