State Grant to Fund DUI Enforcement
Radar guns, laptop computers and play-acting by local students are part of a police program to crack down on drunk drivers starting Dec. 1.
The wide-ranging program will add a second full-time “driving under the influence” officer, whose main duties are to spot drunk drivers, Traffic Lt. Felix Osuna said.
Also, police will receive five new laptop computers and two hand-held radar guns.
An educational component will have one or two students from a local high school play the part of people killed by drunk drivers; they will not be allowed to talk with fellow classmates for a day.
“This is to show how easily one of their fellow students and friends can be taken away from them,” Osuna said.
Many of the programs will be done in conjunction with Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, but all of the funds will come from a $374,000 California Office of Traffic Safety grant.
The City Council unanimously approved the grant allocation at its meeting Monday.
Osuna said the city’s goal for the first year of the 27-month grant is to increase the number of arrests for drunk driving by 18%, from 1,440 in 1995 to 1,700 by Dec. 31, 1997.
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