Crime & Safety

Grants Allow Increased Pedestrian Safety Efforts, Drunk Driving Patrols

Newton Police have some grant help for a couple of enforcement efforts.

The Newton Police Department has received a couple of grants lately allowing it to take part in extra patrols and enforcement measures throughout the city.

The first, a $5,000 grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS), is allowing the Newton Police Department to increase its crosswalk enforcement and bicycle safety efforts in 2013. 

Thanks to the grant, officers issued 51 citations -- monetary fines or warnings -- during a three-hour period at a crosswalk on Beacon Street last week. According to police, they sent an officer out into the crosswalk at Beacon Street and Dalton Road and issued citations and warnings to drivers who failed to stop.

There will be several similar efforts in coming months, police said.

The second grant-based effort will allow the Newton Police Department to join other departments across the state and nation the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign.

From Friday, Aug. 16 through Monday, Sept. 2, Newton will increase patrols throughout the city, specifically on the lookout for intoxicated drivers.

In 2011, 114 people died as a result of alcohol-related crashes in Massachusetts.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.