Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — The holidays are upon us — a time for parties and family gatherings, which increase the number of people traveling.
Law enforcement officials encourage travelers to use caution this holiday season. At least one local agency will have added patrols to help keep the highways safe in the coming weeks. “We applied for and received $7,909 from the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety to work OUI and seatbelt details from now until the end of the year,” said Sgt. Joey Seeley, Presque Isle Police Department.
The funds come from the 2009 High Visibility Holiday Enforcement Grant program.
Seeley said the funding allows the department to beef up patrols from now until the end of the year.
“This will allow us to put additional officers on the street to concentrate on traffic enforcement efforts only. These grant monies will allow the department to work 50 traffic-related details, which are four hours in length,” he said.
Without the grant, Seeley said the PIPD’s regular budget would not allow for this to occur.
Seeley said the department is hoping motorists do their part to make this a safe season.
“As usual, we are asking for voluntary compliance from motorists and are encouraging the public to get involved and call if they suspect an operator may be driving while impaired,” said Seeley.
“The PIPD wishes everyone a happy and safe holiday season. We want everyone to ‘survive the drive,’ so remember to buckle up, don’t speed and, if you’ve been drinking, give someone else the keys or make other arrangements. Don’t get behind the wheel. The life you save may be your own.”
