Las Vegas, Nevada - The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has received multiple grants from the Nevada Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety to support the law enforcement’s efforts toward campaigns aimed at catching drivers who choose to drive impaired, and at stopping impaired citizens from driving during the coming year.

LVMPD has received a $100,000 grant for a DUI van, a $150,000 grant to focus on DUI enforcement, a $100,000 grant focusing on pedestrian safety, and a $248,090 grant to continue Joining Forces safety campaigns. Impaired driving fatalities have consistently been the most common cause of motor vehicle collisions resulting in injuries and death in Nevada. What seems like a small buzz can have deadly consequences when taking to the roadways. Illegal drugs, prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and lack of sleep can also impair your ability to drive safely. Law enforcement want to remind motorists to always drive and ride sober or use a designated driver to reach your destinations safely.

Thanks to this grant award, the LVMPD will be able to send additional uniformed officers with mobile evidentiary testing instruments as well as a phlebotomist, in vehicles capable of transporting prisoners out into the areas where Police are patrolling for impaired drivers from October 2020 through September 2021. The goal is to efficiently collect and document evidence for successful prosecution for drivers who are arrested for driving impaired. By bringing the evidentiary test to the officer in the field, the time between when a suspect was driving, and the time the evidence is obtained is greatly reduced. The grant funded officer can also transport offenders to a booking facility allowing the primary officers to return to their duties of protecting the community.

Law enforcement personnel will continue to enforce traffic safety laws year-round as part of their commitment to reduce crashes and save lives. Whether you are a driver, passenger, or a pedestrian, the LVMPD reminds everyone to make safety on our roadways a top priority.