Nearly $5.6 million in grants have been awarded to five law enforcement agencies in an effort to improve highway safety enforcement.
Courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the federal grant funds will be used to cover overtime for law enforcement officers to target speeding, seat belt violations and impaired driving during peak travel times. The funds will also be used to provide training and research on traffic safety for law enforcement agencies across the state.
“Anyone who chooses to drive impaired or disobey traffic laws is a danger to everyone on Alabama’s roads and highways,” Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement announcing the grants. “These grants support our police officers, sheriffs’ deputies and state troopers who are working long hours to enforce the law and provide a clear message to drive safely and responsibly.”
The Franklin County Commission will receive the largest share of the grant funds – $1.58 million – which will be directed toward the North Central Alabama Highway Safety Office. The Southeast Alabama Regional Highway Safety Office at Enterprise State Community College will receive $1.2 million, and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency – which covers the entire state – will receive $1.54 million for training.
The Mobile County Commission will receive $1.05 million, which will be directed toward the Southwest Regional Highway Safety Office, and the Office of Prosecution Services will receive nearly $190,000 to hire a new traffic safety resource prosecutor.
The grant funds will be allocated by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. State leaders anticipate additional grants for highway safety enforcement in “the near future,” according to an ADECA press release.