Turlock police get grant for DUI enforcement efforts

TURLOCK -- The Turlock Police Department has received a mini-grant to conduct DUI-driver's license checkpoints this year.

The $34,4000 grant from the state Office of Traffic Safety will cover eight checkpoints between now and September. The grant pays for staffing, including overtime and benefits, to conduct the operation.

The grants are a joint venture through the Office of Traffic Safety and the University of California at Berkeley's School of Public Health. The award is part of the university's Safe Transportation Research and Education Center.

The goal of the grant is to reduce the number of people killed and injured in alcohol-related crashes. The majority of the checkpoints must be run between 6 p.m. and 3 a.m. to help curb night-time accidents.

The grant also calls for winter holiday and Labor Day media campaigns aimed at raising awareness of drunken driving.