FOLSOM—The City of Folsom has accepted a $173,500 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to strengthen local traffic safety enforcement and education. The funding, approved by the Folsom City Council on Tuesday night through Resolution No. 11492, supports the Police Department’s Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, or STEP, which focuses on reducing impaired and distracted driving, promoting seat belt use, and improving safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.
According to the staff report, the grant requires no local matching funds and will be used for DUI checkpoints, saturation patrols, motorcycle and pedestrian safety operations, and the purchase of a new police motorcycle. The funds will be deposited in the General Grants Fund and reimbursed by the state as eligible expenses are incurred. The grant period runs from October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025, and will allow the Police Department to continue annual participation in the statewide STEP program, which has funded similar enforcement and education efforts in prior years.
The report noted that in 2024, Folsom Police recorded 1,416 vehicle collisions, including 299 with injuries and six fatalities. That year, officers made 204 DUI arrests, issued 1,760 speeding citations, and cited 207 drivers for distracted driving. Unsafe speed remained the leading cause of collisions. Despite those figures, the city achieved a 19 percent decline in DUI-related crashes in 2024, progress city staff attributed to increased enforcement and public education.
“This funding is crucial and will allow the Police Department to continue its proactive approach to road safety, building on the progress already made and ensuring Folsom remains a safe community,” the staff report stated.
In addition to enforcement, the grant will support officer training, data collection, and public outreach to evaluate and enhance local traffic safety efforts. The Police Department plans to increase visibility of motorcycle units in high-traffic corridors, expand awareness campaigns for impaired and distracted driving, and conduct pedestrian safety education throughout the community.
The award stems from ongoing efforts by the Police Department to secure external funding under a council policy requiring approval for grant applications that commit city resources or staff time. With Tuesday’s acceptance of the OTS grant, the city continues its focus on protecting residents and reducing serious collisions on local streets.
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