Grant helps boost police patrols

If Costa Mesa streets seem like they’re being patrolled by police a little more heavily, that’s not your imagination.

Thanks to a grant from the state Office of Traffic Safety, there are extra officers on patrol today enforcing motorcycle safety.

Costa Mesa police will be patrolling areas frequented by motorcyclists and where crashes occur, officials said. Motorcycle fatalities have been on the rise in California the last decade. There were 204 motorcycle fatalities in 1998 and 560 last year, a 175% increase, police said.

Riders can get proper motorcycle training through the California Motorcyclist Safety Program. For more information, go to www.ca-msp.org or call (877) RIDE-411.

— Joseph Serna