State of California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Grant Award and Agreement
Rustin Banks, Police Chief
Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Rocklin Accepting an Award from the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Grant Agreement and Necessary Grant Documentation.
The State of California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is California’s designated highway safety office that awards approximately 500 grants annually to state and local sub-recipients for innovative, evidence-based education and enforcement programs designed to improve safety for everyone on California roads. Through federal funding made available to states by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the OTS funds over $140 million for programs that address current and future traffic safety needs. The OTS mission is to deliver traffic safety programs to prevent people from being killed and seriously injured in California.
On January 20, 2026 the Rocklin Police Department submitted a Grant Application (27-007295) to OTS for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP). The application complied with the guidance provided in the OTS Grant Program Manual. The application highlighted specific traffic accident primary collision factors and other influences that lead to fatal and/or injury collisions in 2025, such as failure to stop for red lights (25%), unsafe speed (18%), and unsafe turning movements (12.5%). While driving under the influence (DUI) falling to fourth most common collision factor highlights a major programmatic milestone, data shows that impaired driving remains a critical threat on public roads. In addition, the application documented the continued significant problems related to distracted drivers/driving. For example, in 2025 Rocklin Police Officers issued 587 cell phone citations.
To address these primary collision factors and other influences, Rocklin’s grant performance measures will include directed speed enforcement operations near collision sites, targeted enforcement operations at intersections where collisions were reported, and the performance of scheduled enforcement operations near areas reporting unsafe turning maneuvers. The Department will also conduct highly visible and publicized directed enforcement operations to aggressively enforce cell phone laws.
On May 29, 2026 the OTS authorizing officer accepted the City’s submittal and tentatively approved an award in the amount of $77,250 to support the City's objectives within STEP. The Grant Agreement provided by OTS to the City (Attachment 2) is submitted for City Council approval, pending the Federal Government's final funding award to OTS.
There is no direct fiscal impact to the staff recommendation. The grant does not require a City match. The proposed resolution includes the necessary budget authority to implement and administer the $77,250 grant within the Traffic Safety/Police Grants (Fund 244).