Palm Desert Sheriff's Station Gets $102K Grant To Combat Risky Drivers

PALM DESERT, CA — The Palm Desert Sheriff's Station was awarded a $102,341 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety that will be used to "help reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths on our roads," the agency announced Wednesday.

According to the sheriff's department, the grant will provide additional programs and resources, including:

• DUI checkpoints and patrols focused on stopping suspected impaired drivers
• High-visibility distracted driving enforcement operations targeting drivers in violation of California’s hands-free cell phone law
• Enforcement operations focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking 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
• A warrant services sweep that will focus on Palm Desert residents who have active traffic-related arrest warrants
• A "Know Your Limit” program, which is intended to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving, and how little it takes to reach the legal limit to drive a vehicle
• Collaborative enforcement efforts with neighboring agencies
• Officer training and/or recertification: Standard Field Sobriety Test, Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement, and Drug Recognition Expert

“This funding will strengthen our commitment to public safety in our community,” Riverside County Sheriff’s Sgt. Don Olson said. “We will be able to increase our efforts in making our roads safer for everyone and focus on critical areas such as distracted driving, impaired driving and speeding.”

The grant program will run through September 2024.