Stoneham Police Get Grant To Bolster Traffic Enforcement Efforts

STONEHAM, MA — The Stoneham Police Department is looking to strengthen its traffic enforcement campaigns thanks to a new grant from the state.

The $35,000 in funding comes through the state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security via its Road Safety Grant program.

The department noted the grant in a statement on Thursday, saying it is looking to expand a series of six total traffic enforcement campaigns through the year including programs focused on impaired driving, seat belt enforcement, speed enforcement, distracted driving and pedestrian and bicycle safety.

The department is planning outreach to young people in town to emphasize the importance of bicycle safety and helmet wearing. This could take the form of school assemblies and the use of the department’s Community Policing Bicycle Team, among other things.

The department will also work to educate and help parents install car seats for children in cars.

Stoneham has won grants through the Road Safety program before, previously using funding for multiple radar speed signs, a radar speed trailer and handheld LiDAR scanner technology.

The police detailed their need for more Road Safety Grant dollars in their grant application, saying staffing shortages and a reduced number of officers participating in grant funded traffic enforcement operations has led to an overall decrease in traffic enforcement.

As part of their application, police flagged issues on North Border Road, which they said has accounted for more speeding citations than any other street in Stoneham.

Residents on North Street, Pond Street and High Street have also sent in “a number of complaints” about speeding, according to police.

Elsewhere, the police said most "failure to stop" citations for stop sign violations in Stoneham are written at a four way stop at Wright Street and Maple Street.

Most "failure to stop" citations for running a red light are then written at the intersection of Main Street and Summer Street.

Police said they would target those problematic locations with traffic enforcement campaigns as well as pedestrian and bicyclist enforcement efforts.

Outside of traffic enforcement, police noted large groups of young people riding bikes without helmets.

“There is a community concern that there will be an accident involving a youth or teen on a bike and they will be injured because they did not wear a bicycle helmet,” police said in their application.

Helmet initiatives will aim to address helmet non-compliance. Police may also hand out free helmets for individuals who don’t have their own helmets.

The state announced $10.9 million in Road Safety Grant funding earlier this month for 186 municipal and state agencies.

Departments or agencies must submit formal plans to strengthen traffic safety training, equipment and enforcement and jurisdiction in order to qualify for the funds, as noted in the state’s announcement.

Outside of Stoneham, other area communities receiving Road Safety Grant funding this month include Burlington, Wakefield and Malden.