Murrieta Police Receive $100K Grant to Bolster Traffic Patrols

A $100,000 grant received by the Murrieta Police Department will bolster patrols targeting drunken drivers, distracted motorists, seatbelt violators and other scofflaws over the next year, a police spokesman said today.

"In my over 25 years of law enforcement experience, I have seen far too many people killed or severely injured as a result of traffic collisions caused by drivers who have made poor decisions, such as driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs," Murrieta police Chief Sean Hadden said.

"We are grateful to be awarded this grant, as it will help us improve traffic safety in our community by allowing us to schedule extra enforcement activities that focus on dangerous driving activities, such as DUI, texting while driving and red light or stop sign violations."

The California Office of Traffic Safety awarded the funding from an allotment received by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

According to Murrieta police Sgt. Jim Gruwell, the grant money will cover overtime and other costs related to anti-DUI saturation patrols, child safety seat enforcement, speeding crackdowns, stings designed to catch offenders who drive away from a courthouse after a judge has suspended their licenses, as well as motorcyclists driving recklessly.

The grant funding is in effect through next October.