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CONSIDERATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $95,083 FROM THE OKLAHOMA HIGHWAY SAFETY OFFICE (OHSO) TO BE USED BY THE NORMAN POLICE DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT HIGH-VISIBILITY ENFORCEMENT, SATURATION PATROLS, INFORMATION/EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS DIRECTED TOWARD TRAFFIC SAFETY, AND PARTICIPATION IN OHSO MOBILIZATIONS; APPROVAL OF CONTRACT K-2021-49; AND BUDGET APPROPRIATION FROM THE SPECIAL GRANTS FUND BALANCE.
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BACKGROUND: The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office (OHSO) has informed the Norman Police Department that it has been awarded a $95,083 grant. The funds are allocated for general police traffic services to conduct “high visibility enforcement” in support of state and national traffic safety goals. Not all collisions and injuries can be directly attributed to a specific causal factor. Some collisions occur because drivers operate a vehicle unsafely and without due attention to traffic laws and road conditions. General traffic enforcement allows the Norman Police Department to address a greater variety of traffic problems.
DISCUSSION: The Norman Police Department will utilize data and reference sources including collision reports, public complaints, and other crime statistics to identify violations and locations that contribute to collisions. Data Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety (DDACTS) will assist to locate geographically-based patrol zones in order to identify high-crime and high-crash enforcement areas.
Full time officers, in an overtime capacity, will be assigned to identified areas. In the high visibility enforcement model, officers focus on drivers who commit common aggressive driving actions such as speeding, following too closely, and running red lights. Efforts also include impaired driving enforcement, occupant protection enforcement and related activities such as traffic safety and sobriety checkpoints. Saturation patrols may also be conducted with a primary focus on those violations that may cause or contribute to collisions.
Traffic and Bike Team officers will also work in an overtime capacity to enforce violations that cause or contribute to collisions in areas and at times that include increased numbers of pedestrians and bicyclists. Enforcement activities will focus on traffic laws as they apply to pedestrians and bicyclists.
Public information and education activities will inform and educate the public during special emphasis days and times. Preliminary breath test devices (PBTs) may be used during special events such as “Know Your Limit” as well as OHSO mobilizations. Bicycle Team members, and presentations by School Resource Officers, will also serve to educate bicyclists and pedestrians on the laws and regulations regarding their safety.
Funding is also provided to assist with specifically focused alcohol-impaired driving enforcement strategies and will include targeted enforcement and related activities. Saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints may be used during holidays and other times of local emphasis efforts such as “Operation Cadence”, “No Refusal Weekends”, and OHSO mobilizations.
The Norman Police Department will supply the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office with enforcement and education statistics on a monthly basis as stated in the attached contract between Oklahoma Highway Safety Office and the City of Norman. Funding reimbursement will continue through September 30, 2021.
RECOMMENDATION NO. 1: Acceptance of the grant and approval of the contract.
RECOMMENDATION NO. 2: Budget appropriation of $95,083 from the Special Grant Fund balance (22-29000); designating $88,326 to Project GP0125, Traffic Enforcement-Overtime (22660119-42110) and $6,757 to Project GP0125, Traffic Enforcement-Benefits (22660119-42901). Upon reimbursement, funds are to be deposited into Other Revenue/Traffic & Alcohol Enforcement (226-333340).