The Sahuarita Police Department has been awarded grant funds to help with traffic safety and DUI traffic enforcement in the community for 2024/2025. Funding for the increased enforcement is provided through several grants from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS).
Within the last 12 months, Sahuarita Officers have made 54 arrests for impaired driving/DUI offenses. The funding and awarding of these grants will assist the police department in enhancing its abilities to focus on the prevention, education, detection, apprehension, and prosecution of potentially impaired drivers.
DUI/Impaired Driving grant funded $20,992.00 to support and enhance Impaired Driver/DUI alcohol education, enforcement, and investigations throughout the Town of Sahuarita to include DUI Task Force participation, DUI Checkpoints, and saturation enforcement details within the community.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety grant provided $15,000.00 for the enforcement and education of traffic laws pertaining to the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. Enforcement areas include school zones and large community events.
The Accident Investigation Program provided $5,000.00 for training in the investigation and reconstruction of traffic accidents.
The Occupant Protection Program provided $5,000.00 for the enforcement and education of child safety seats. The Sahuarita Police Department has staff certified as National Child Passenger Safety Technicians to be available to the community to assist in proper child safety seat installation.
The Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) provided $12,341.00 and will be used for the enforcement of traffic laws pertaining to aggressive driving, speeding, racing, and red light running, as well as to purchase a new LIDAR. Additionally, the Sahuarita Police Department will focus on increasing public awareness about the dangers of speed in an attempt to reduce and prevent vehicle collisions.
The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has contributed $58,333.00 in overtime and material funding for training, education, equipment, and enforcement in the areas of impaired driving, pedestrian and bicycle safety, occupant protection, accident investigation, and selective traffic enforcement to keep the Town of Sahuarita a safe community.