Petaluma police win traffic grant

Petaluma police have won a $149,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety for a yearlong program of special enforcements and public awareness efforts to prevent traffic-related deaths and injuries.

Sgt. Jim Stephenson said the number of people killed or injured in traffic collisions increased in 2011 and 2012 after a dip in the four previous years.

“Particularly worrisome are recent increases in pedestrian and motorcycle fatalities and the dangers of distracting technologies,” he said. “This grant funding will provide opportunities to combat these and other devastating problems such as drunk and drugged driving and speeding.”

Statistics for 2013 weren’t available.

Grant targets will include educational presentations; DUI checkpoints and patrols; enforcement of distracted driving, motorcycle safety, seat belt and child safety seats, speed, red light and stop sign running; warrant service operations targeting repeat DUI offenders; the compilation of DUI “hot sheets” that identify the top DUI offenders; specialized DUI and drugged-driving training; and court sting operations to cite people who drive away from court after license suspension or revocation hearings.

You can reach Lori A. Carter at 762-7297 or lori.carter@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @loriacarter.