FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2024
Contact Information:
Dustin Whitson, Sheriff’s Corporal
[email protected]
909-473-2661
The Office of Traffic Safety Awards $1,130,000.00 STEP Grant and $660,722.00 TRIP Grant to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department for Traffic Enforcement Program to Increase Safety on Roads
San Bernardino County, Calif. – The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department announced today it has received a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to support its ongoing enforcement and education programs to help reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths on our roads. The grant program runs through September 2025.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has also received a second grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to replace outdated alcohol testing instruments in the Sheriff’s Crime Lab. These instruments will support all law enforcement agencies within San Bernardino County.
“We are grateful to receive this grant, which will strengthen our traffic enforcement efforts and improve road safety,” Sheriff’s Corporal, Dustin Whitson said. “By increasing enforcement of traffic laws and focusing on high-risk areas, we aim to reduce dangerous driving behaviors, prevent crashes, and make our roads safer for everyone."
The grant will provide additional programs and resources, including:
• DUI checkpoints and patrols focused on stopping suspected impaired drivers
• High-visibility distracted driving enforcement operations targeting drivers in violation of California’s hands-free cell phone law
• Enforcement operations focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk
• Enforcement operations focused on violations which contribute to collisions: speeding, failure to yield, stop sign and/or red-light running, and improper turning or lane changes
• Community presentations on traffic safety issues such as distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding and bicycle and pedestrian safety
• Collaborative enforcement efforts with neighboring agencies
• Officer training and/or recertification: Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE)
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
