Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – The Presque Isle Police Department has received a number of grants that has enabled it to target various vehicular violations in the weeks and months ahead. “We applied for and received $5,000 from the state Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Highway Safety that will be used to combat drunk driving. We also received $2,000 from DPS to enforce seatbelt use, through the ‘Click It or Ticket’ national campaign,” said Sgt. Joey Seeley, PIPD.
The first grant will allow the PIPD to add extra OUI details between now and Sept. 15, while the second allows for extra patrols through May 31 as officers check for seatbelt violations.
Graduation season has traditionally been a time for youthful parties; and in some instances, those parties involve underage drinking. The PIPD is in its second year of funding to address the problem of minors consuming alcohol.
“We received a grant for $3,666 to be used over a three-year period, beginning in May 2008 and continuing through April 2010,” said Chief Naldo Gagnon, PIPD.
“We’ve used these funds to check for underage drinking at local businesses and sales of alcohol to minors at area stores,” explained Seeley. “We’ve done compliance checks at local stores, monitoring store sales.”
Police are also teaming up with the Maine Warden Service to ensure safety on area ATV trails.
“We’re sharing a grant for approximately $5,768 from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife with the Maine Warden Service. It’s a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement grant that’s good for this year. We’re teaming up with the MWS to patrol trails,” said Seeley.
Seeley added the grant pays for police and game wardens to monitor violations on area trails between May 15 and July 31. Officers will work with members of the Star City ATV Club throughout the summer, educating the public on proper use of all-terrain vehicles and ATV rules.
The department also received a $5,000 grant that will be used to stop speeding motorists.
“With last year’s program, we had performed speed details at various locations around town, which resulted in several tickets being issued. The program was successful in getting motorists to slow down as they traveled Main St., especially downtown where pedestrians had expressed concern,” said Gagnon.
Speeding vehicles had become a concern, especially near the heart of town, when a female pedestrian was struck by a vehicle as she crossed the street after attending a movie with friends.
“We encourage pedestrians to use extra caution and use the crosswalks, especially near the movie theatre. We’re seeing an increase in foot traffic and we’re advising pedestrians to use extra caution throughout the city,” said Seeley. “We’ll be watching for violations – those who fail to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and speeders.”
Officers will be handling speed details from now through September.
Gagnon said the grants allow for added patrols, at no cost to taxpayers.
“These grants allow the department to perform special details, providing funding for overtime for our officers, at no cost to the citizens of Presque Isle,” said Gagnon. “Combined, the grants total more than $20,000 in added coverage to ensure safer highways and a safer community.”
