Contributed Article/Courtesy Safford Police Department
In an ongoing effort to reduce the number of drug and alcohol-impaired drivers on our streets and highways, the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety recently awarded the Safford Police Department $7,500 in DUI Enforcement Grant funding. This funding is specifically for officer overtime and will be used during Eastern Arizona DUI Task Force and departmental enforcement details geared to target those driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
The Safford Police Department (SPD) also received $5,000 in grant funding for Selective Traffic Enforcement (STEP) overtime. Through STEP funding, officers are able to focus additional hours on speed, seat belt, aggressive driving, child safety restraint and other traffic related violations. Included in the STEP funding, the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety provided an additional $7,500 for the purchase of speed-related equipment. This funding was used to purchase two handheld speed LIDAR and one in-car speed radar.
In addition to DUI and traffic enforcement, the SPD will be working with schools, community groups and media in an effort to increase awareness of the risks and consequences unlawful driving creates. This grant is part of the ongoing cooperative effort that the SPD has enjoyed with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and its director, Alberto Gutier, to fund proactive and educational programs in our city.
The Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is the focal point for highway safety issues in Arizona. It is a cabinet agency that provides leadership by developing, promoting and coordinating programs; influencing public and private policy and increasing public awareness of highway safety. For more information on the agency go to http://www.azgohs.gov/.
