Monterey Park police get $190,000 grant for traffic enforcement

The Monterey Park Police Department has received state funding for ongoing traffic enforcement and safety education programs, the department announced last week.

The grant from the National Transportation Safety Administration via the California Office of Traffic Safety aims to help reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths that result from traffic collisions.

“We are grateful to receive this grant, which will strengthen our traffic enforcement efforts and improve road safety,” Monterey Park Police Chief Scott Wiese said in a statement. “By increasing enforcement of traffic laws and focusing on high-risk areas, we aim to reduce dangerous driving behaviors, prevent crashes, and make our roads safer for everyone.”  

These programs and resources received the grant funding:  

• DUI checkpoints and patrols;
• “high-visibility” operations targeting distracted drivers in violation of California’s hands-free cell phone law;
• enforcement operations focused on the most dangerous driving behaviors that threaten people biking or walking;
• enforcement ops focused on leading violations that cause crashes — speeding, failure to yield, running stop signs and red-lights and improper turning or lane changing;
• community presentations on distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding and bicycle and pedestrian safety;
• collaborative efforts with neighboring law enforcement agencies; and
• officer training and recertification for the Standard Field Sobriety Test, Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement and as Drug Recognition Experts.

The grant funding is through September 2025.