The Redding Police Department has received a $355,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to expand traffic-safety enforcement, education and officer training through September 2027.
The department said the grant will support a dedicated full-time DUI officer, DUI checkpoints and patrols focused on suspected impaired drivers. It also will fund high-visibility operations targeting violations of California’s hands-free cell phone law.
Other planned enforcement will focus on speeding, failure to yield, stop-sign and red-light violations, improper turns and lane changes, and dangerous driving behaviors that threaten people walking or biking, according to the department’s announcement. Redding police also plan to collaborate with neighboring agencies on enforcement operations.
The funding includes community presentations on distracted and impaired driving, speeding, and bicycle and pedestrian safety. Officers will receive training or recertification in Standard Field Sobriety Testing, Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement and Drug Recognition Expert procedures.
Traffic Officer RJ Johnson said the grant will provide additional resources to address driving behaviors that contribute to serious and fatal crashes. OTS Director Stephanie Dougherty said enforcement and education focused on speeding, distraction and impairment can help prevent crashes and save lives.
The announcement did not identify specific streets, checkpoint dates or enforcement targets. It also did not say how the department will measure or publicly report the program’s results.
