REF:Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant
DATE: January 14, 2002

Elyria Police Chief Michael Medders today announced that the Elyria Police Department has received a $16,114.00 grant from the Ohio Department of Public Safety, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Transportation, for the enforcement of traffic violations in high accident areas throughout the City. The $16,114.00 in grant funds will be used to pay personnel costs for the enforcement periods on an overtime basis.

"The Elyria Police Department's program will target selected locations within the City at selected times that will have the most significant impact on traffic crash problems within the City of Elyria", reported Chief Medders, "with an emphasis on those areas that have a high incident of fatal or serious injury traffic crashes."

According to Chief Medders, "The intent of the S.T.E.P. Program is to use enforcement activities as a tool to educate the motoring public on safety issues that often lead to injury or death in traffic crashes. The overall goal is to reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths resulting from traffic crashes with the City of Elyria."

The Elyria Police Department will utilize a series of highly publicized S.T.E.P. "Blitzes" during high travel periods such as holidays and special events, as well as routinely targeting high traffic crash accident areas and times. The traffic enforcement will place emphasis on violations that are related to speed, alcohol and/or drug usage, and occupant restraint usage, the primary factors leading to injuries in traffic crashes.

The first "blitz" period will be during the month a February, which is "National Child Passenger Safety Month". During the month, there will be fifteen (15) four (4) hour periods of concentrated enforcement aimed at high accident areas with the City. Particular attention will be paid on enforcing the use of child passenger safety restraint devices in vehicles traveling in these high accident areas.

Issued by authority of Chief Michael Medders

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