The Damariscotta Police Department has been granted $4,577 from the Maine Highway Safety Commission to conduct high-visibility, impaired driving patrols, Sgt. Jason Warlick informed selectmen at the board’s meeting on Jan. 18.

A high-visibility program is one that increases the public’s perception that police are targeting particular behaviors, such as impaired driving or failure to wear seat belts, by stepped up enforcement either at a checkpoint, such as a sobriety checkpoint, or saturation patrolling in a particular area. The technique is often paired with increased publicity about police activities, or scheduled and publicized traffic stops.

The town will not have to make a cash match for the grant, which will fund overtime hours for additional patrols and checkpoints. The expected cost per hour for the overtime is $45 per hour, which will give the department a little more than 27 four-hour blocks.

The state, rather than the town, will collect all fees and fines levied by any enforcement. The state is also expected to reimburse the town for any overtime necessary for officers to appear in court.

Warlick said most of the enforcement would occur in the spring, summer and early fall.