The Sahuarita Police Department has secured $64,919 in grants from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to enhance traffic safety and DUI enforcement for the 2025–2026 period.
In the last year, Sahuarita officers made 66 arrests related to impaired driving or DUI offenses. The new funding will be used to broaden education, enforcement, and outreach aimed at reducing impaired driving and other hazardous behaviors on local roads.
The grants are allocated across several areas:
– A $25,000 DUI/Impaired Driving Grant will support alcohol-related education, enforcement, and investigations. The funds will be directed toward participation in DUI Task Forces, checkpoints, and saturation patrols within the community.
– The Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Grant provides $15,000 for initiatives focused on enforcing laws that protect pedestrians and bicyclists. This includes targeted efforts in school zones and during large community events.
– The Occupant Protection Program grant of $5,000 is dedicated to enforcing child safety seat use. Certified staff members will assist families with proper installation as part of this program.
– Under the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP), $19,919 will be used to address aggressive driving, speeding, racing, and red light running. Part of this grant will go toward purchasing two new LIDAR devices. There will also be increased public awareness campaigns about speed-related dangers with a goal of reducing vehicle collisions.
A spokesperson for the department stated: “Through this partnership with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, the Sahuarita Police Department is furthering its commitment to keeping Sahuarita’s roads safe for everyone who lives, works, and travels in our community.”
