The Damariscotta Police Department recently received a grant totaling almost $5,000 for enforcement of speeding and operating under the influence.
The Damariscotta Board of Selectmen accepted the $4,977.93 grant during its meeting Wednesday, Jan. 18. The funds come from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and are administered by the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety.
The grant will allow the department to step up enforcement of impaired driving, according to Sgt. Jason Warlick.
As part of the grant, an officer will be specifically designated to handle impaired driving. The grant covers 106 hours of enforcement, which will be divided into 27 four-hour blocks, Warlick said.
The department will start utilizing the hours in February and has until September to complete the required hours of the grant, Warlick said.
As part of the grant, the town is required to contribute $1,244.48 as the local match. The town will meet the match with administrative, fuel, and mileage costs, all already in the department’s budget.
The Damariscotta Board of Selectmen unanimously accepted the grant and thanked the department for seeking out the opportunity.
“This is wonderful. We really appreciate it,” Chairman Robin Mayer said.
