Golden State Today

The Goleta Police Department has been awarded a $125,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to enhance its traffic enforcement and education programs. The initiative aims to reduce serious injuries and fatalities on local roads and will run through September 2025.

Senior Deputy Jeff Farmer expressed gratitude for the funding, stating, "We are grateful to receive this grant, which will strengthen our traffic enforcement efforts and improve road safety." He emphasized that increased enforcement of traffic laws in high-risk areas is intended to curb dangerous driving behaviors and prevent accidents.

The grant will fund several programs and resources. These include operations targeting impaired drivers and high-visibility distracted driving enforcement, focusing on violations of California’s hands-free cell phone law. Other efforts will address dangerous behaviors affecting cyclists and pedestrians' safety. Additionally, there will be enforcement against top crash-causing violations such as speeding, failure to yield, running stop signs or red lights, and improper turning or lane changes.

Community presentations on traffic safety topics like distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding, and bicycle and pedestrian safety are also planned. The program includes collaborative efforts with neighboring agencies as well as officer training in Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE), and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) certification.

The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office provides police services for Goleta. The funding was granted by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.