East SBV Times

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department has been awarded two grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to enhance road safety through enforcement and education programs. The grants, totaling $1,790,722, are intended to reduce serious injuries and fatalities on roads by supporting various traffic safety initiatives.

The first grant, amounting to $1,130,000, is part of the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP). It will fund additional programs and resources such as DUI checkpoints, patrols targeting impaired drivers, high-visibility operations against distracted driving, and enforcement efforts focused on dangerous driving behaviors like speeding and failure to yield. Community presentations on traffic safety issues and collaborative efforts with neighboring agencies are also included in the program.

The second grant of $660,722 will be used to update alcohol testing instruments in the Sheriff's Crime Lab. These new instruments will aid all law enforcement agencies within San Bernardino County.

Sheriff’s Corporal Dustin Whitson expressed gratitude for the support: “We are grateful to receive this grant, which will strengthen our traffic enforcement efforts and improve road safety. By increasing enforcement of traffic laws and focusing on high-risk areas, we aim to reduce dangerous driving behaviors, prevent crashes, and make our roads safer for everyone."

The funding is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The program is set to run through September 2025.