HPD awarded $60K grant for traffic safety

The Hollister Police Department has been awarded a new traffic safety grant for a year-long program aimed at preventing deaths and injuries on our roadways, according to a press release.
The $60,000 grant awarded by the federal government is for new equipment purchases and special traffic enforcement measures.
The funds will be used to pay overtime for officers to patrol “specifically for traffic enforcement purposes,” said Hollister Police Chief Jeff Miller in the statement.
According to the statement:
The grant will assist in efforts to deal with traffic safety problems and to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in traffic collisions. Traffic deaths from all causes declined in California by 11.9 percent, from 3,081 killed in 2009 to 2,715 in 2010. While alcohol impaired deaths saw a sharp decline last year, DUI deaths remain the largest sector, at more than 30 percent of traffic fatalities.
The grant activities will specifically target motorcycle safety, DUI offenders, and drivers with suspended or revoked licenses, red light running, speeding, and seatbelt violations. This will be done through the use of DUI/Drivers License checkpoints, special enforcement operations, and court stings where DUI offenders with suspended or revoked driver licenses get behind the wheel after leaving court.
Funding for this program is from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.