The Pasadena Police Department announced Monday it has received a $545,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to support traffic enforcement and education programs aimed at reducing serious injuries and deaths on local roads.
The grant-funded program runs through September 2026 and will bolster the department’s efforts to address dangerous driving behaviors, enhance public awareness, and improve roadway safety.
“We are grateful to receive this grant, which will strengthen our traffic enforcement efforts and improve road safety,” Pasadena Police Lt. Anthony Russo said in a department statement. “Through a combination of education and enforcement efforts, our goal is to reduce dangerous driving behaviors, prevent crashes, and make our roads safer for everyone.”
According to the department’s announcement, the grant will support a range of initiatives, including:
• DUI and driver’s license checkpoints and patrols targeting suspected impaired drivers
• High-visibility distracted driving enforcement focused on violations of California’s hands-free cell phone law
• Operations targeting driver behaviors that endanger pedestrians and bicyclists
• Enforcement of top crash-related violations such as speeding, failure to yield, red-light running, and improper turning or lane changes
• Community presentations on traffic safety topics including impaired driving, distracted driving, speeding, and pedestrian and bicycle safety
• Collaborative enforcement efforts with neighboring law enforcement agencies
• Officer training and recertification in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE), and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) protocols
• Warrant service operations
• Motorcycle safety enforcement operations
• “Know Your Limit” awareness campaigns
“Through focused traffic enforcement and education, we’re working toward a future where everyone will be safe on California roads,” OTS Director Stephanie Dougherty said in a statement. “By encouraging people to prioritize safety in their daily choices, we are creating a strong road safety culture together.”
Funding for the program was provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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