Grants help local police beef up safety measures
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Local law enforcement will be more visible in the weeks and months to come, thanks to several grants that will allow for additional patrols and details — most notably the Click It or Ticket program that begins this week.
“The Presque Isle Police Department got several grants for enforcement efforts. We received $2,000 that will be used toward seatbelt enforcement; $3,000 for combined enforcement — seatbelt, OUI and speed; and a third grant for $3,000 that will be used for a two-week OUI program,” said Seeley. “That means the total received by the department will be $8,000.”
The Click It or Ticket program officially kicks off May 24 and runs through June 6.
“The seatbelt high visibility enforcement campaign runs during the national Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign. It runs for two weeks, beginning prior to Memorial Day and going through the first week of June,” said Seeley. “We received the maximum on that — $2,000 — that all goes toward seatbelt enforcement.”
The second grant will provide overtime funding for officers between July and August, with a focus on seatbelt use, speed and drivers operating under the influence.
“The combined grant will be used between July 1 and Aug. 19 and is targeted specifically for seatbelt checks, watching for speeders and OUI cases. We received the maximum for that, $3,000,” Seeley said.
The third grant will be used between August and September and focus on individuals operating while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
“We’ll use this grant during the national drunk driving campaign — Over the Limit, Under Arrest. That takes place between Aug. 20 and Sept. 6. We asked for $3,000 and got it,” said Seeley.
Seeley said officers aren’t out to harass anyone, just keep motorists and pedestrians safe during warmer months when more people venture outside to enjoy the milder temperatures.
“We’re looking for the usual — drivers operating erratically, speeding or not wearing seatbelts. We’re just asking for voluntary compliance from the public,” said Seeley.
Many of Maine’s police departments began beefing up enforcement of the state’s seatbelt laws on Monday, joining their counterparts in the national Click It or Ticket campaign aimed at increasing seatbelt usage as the summer driving season begins with the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.
Director of the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety, Lauren Stewart, said 66 police departments, 11 sheriffs’ offices and Maine State Police will participate in a summer-long effort to increase highway safety enforcement, beginning with the seatbelt campaign.
Stewart said the police departments will share in $545,272 in federal highway safety money, funneled through her agency.
“In addition to the seatbelt enforcement effort, the money will be used to fund overtime to increase police patrols looking for drunk drivers, speeders and aggressive drivers,” said Stewart.
Maine’s seatbelt usage rate was 82.6 percent in 2009, said Stewart, which is very close to the national average of 83 percent.
“The last two years have been the safest on Maine roads in the past 50 years. Much of the credit goes to the state’s police agencies for their continued efforts to make our roads safe. This year’s federal funding of over a half million dollars will continue those enforcement efforts for the entire summer driving season,” said Stewart.
According to Stewart, 159 people were killed on Maine roads during 2009 and there were 155 highway deaths in 2008 — both the safest years on Maine roads since 1959, when 136 deaths were reported. She said there have been 42 highway deaths so far this year, which compares to 44 deaths at this time during 2009.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children age 3 to 6 and 8 to 14. In 2007, 6,532 passenger vehicle occupants 14 and younger were involved in fatal crashes. Parents and caregivers are urged to make sure their car seats and booster seats are properly installed in their vehicles to prevent injuries and deaths amongst their children.
“Occupant protection is for everyone,” said Stewart. “The MBHS wants to remind everyone that buckling up is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash.”
Seeley said the funding will allow his department to continue to do what it has been doing all along, just with a few more officers to get the job done.
“The highway safety grant moneys will supplement what we’re already running with regular patrols. This allows us to add an additional officer to regularly scheduled details,” said Seeley.
For more information, contact 764-4476.
