Newport awarded $250,000 grant for traffic safety enforcement

A $250,000 state grant will help fund a year-long Newport Beach Police Department enforcement program aimed at preventing traffic-related deaths and injuries.

The California Office of Traffic Safety this month awarded the department with the grant, which will fund educational presentations related to traffic safety, as well as DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols and putting more officers on the streets to promote bicycle, pedestrian and motorcycle safety and enforce distracted-driving laws.

The grant also will pay for stakeout operations to find people with multiple impaired-driving offenses who are driving with suspended or revoked licenses, according to a news release.

“These aren’t new issues, but as long as they continue to affect the people who live, work and play in Newport Beach, we are dedicated to addressing them head-on,” police Sgt. Rachel Johnson said in a statement.

“The goal is to intervene before tragedy strikes. These funds from the Office of Traffic Safety allow us to allocate more officers to educating the public and to patrolling our roadways.”