MEXICO – Police officers will be increasing patrols this month to ensure that motorists are wearing seat belts and to crack down on those driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, thanks to grants from the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety.

Chief Jim Theriault said his department received $1,836 that will permit his officers to work overtime hours to enforce the state law that allows an officer to stop a motorist when a seat belt is not being worn.

Prior to the September 2007 law, belt enforcement was secondary to any other moving vehicle violation.

The extra patrols will be in force from May 19 through June 1. This is the third year the Police Department has received the seat belt enforcement grant.

Also, the department received $3,740 that will allow officers to work overtime looking for people who may be driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The grant also calls for two road blocks to be in place in July and September for officers to look for OUI offenders.

Theriault said the first special OUI patrol began on Friday night, May 9.

His department has received money for these extra patrols for at least a decade, Theriault said.