Grant will fund additional traffic enforcement in Menifee

News release from the Menifee Police Department:

MENIFEE -- The Menifee Police Department will be implementing a police traffic services program to deter dangerous and illegal driving behaviors that increase the risk of crashes in the community.

“Poor driving habits, including intoxication, speeding and cell phone usage are causing senseless loss of life,” Menifee Police Department Chief of Police Pat Walsh said. “This funding allows us to increase our traffic enforcement efforts, with the goal of reducing serious injury and fatal crashes on our roads.”

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “Road traffic crashes are a leading cause of death in the United States for people aged 1-54.” In an effort to reduce that statistic, Menifee Police Department is partnering with the Office of Traffic Safety to make the roadways a safer place.

Funding is provided by an $80,000 grant, from the Office of Traffic Safety through the National Traffic Safety Administration. It will pay for additional enforcement measures, including:

-- DUI checkpoints and patrols specifically focused on suspected impaired drivers.

-- Enforcement operations focused on suspected distracted drivers in violation of California’s hands-free cell phone law.

-- Bicycle and pedestrian safety enforcement operations focused on driver behaviors that put vulnerable road users at risk.

-- Enforcement operations focused on top violations that cause crashes: speeding, failure to yield, stop sign and/or red-light running, and improper turning or lane changes.

-- Community education presentations on traffic safety issues such as distracted driving, DUI, speeding, and bicycle and pedestrian safety.

-- Officer training and/or recertification: Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE).

The grant program will run through September 2022.