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Council hears police explanation of YDOT-funded enforcement grants and plans for school-zone presence
Summary
Chief described YDOT-funded grants for impaired-driving and seat-belt enforcement that fund focused patrol shifts; council also asked about increased officer presence around schools and SRO activity as the school year begins.
The chief of police explained two grants funded through YDOT that will pay for focused enforcement shifts aimed at impaired driving and occupant protection (seat-belt enforcement).
"Both those grants are funded through YDOT," the chief said. Officers perform four-hour high-visibility shifts during which they focus on impaired-driving indicators (weaving, lane swerving, failure to use turn signals) and occupant-protection enforcement. The chief said the grants support high-visibility traffic stops for speeders and other dangerous driving and that seat-belt enforcement is a primary activity supported by the funding.
A council member asked whether the grants change day-to-day policing. The chief said officers assigned to grant-funded shifts are not relegated to radio calls for service during those blocks and instead proactively enforce traffic and occupant-safety laws.
Separately, council members asked about school-zone safety around Dean Morgan and other locations where parents reported drivers blowing stop signs. The chief said school resource officers are back in schools and begin work about two weeks before classes to re-establish routines and perform routine patrols around schools. "So, yes, there will be an increase in the presence," the chief said, adding the department conducts targeted efforts to address poor driving habits that develop over summer.
No formal policy changes or ordinances were proposed in the transcript; staff described enforcement activity funded by grants and normal SRO operations for the new school year.
