Redlands Police Department secures $120,000 grant for traffic safety enforcement

REDLANDS, Calif. — The Redlands Police Department has been awarded a $120,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to bolster its traffic enforcement and safety programs aimed at reducing accidents and dangerous driving behaviors.

Why it matters: The grant, which runs through September 2025, will support initiatives that focus on improving road safety across the community.

Details: The grant will fund a range of programs designed to target hazardous driving and increase public awareness of traffic safety, including:

• DUI checkpoints and patrols to apprehend impaired drivers.
• Distracted driving enforcement operations, particularly focusing on violations of California’s hands-free cell phone law.
• Increased attention to the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians, with enforcement actions aimed at drivers exhibiting risky behaviors.
• Crackdowns on common traffic violations, including speeding, failure to yield, running stop signs or red lights, and improper turning or lane changes.
• Public presentations on key safety issues such as impaired driving, distracted driving, and pedestrian safety.
• Collaboration with neighboring law enforcement agencies for joint traffic safety efforts.
• Officer training and recertification in areas such as the Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE), and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) protocols.

What they're saying: "We are grateful to receive this grant, which will strengthen our traffic enforcement efforts and improve road safety," said Redlands Police Chief Rachel Tolber in a press release Thursday. "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, provided through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, will help the department maintain and expand its efforts to reduce the number of traffic-related injuries and deaths in Redlands.

For more information on the Redlands Police Department's traffic enforcement initiatives, visit the city’s website.