Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded four grants totaling about $1.73 million to help keep Alabama highways safe and ensure that motorists who break state traffic laws are held accountable.
The governor awarded $1.54 million to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and another $187,179 to the state Office of Prosecution Services.
ALEA will use its funds to ensure that an adequate number of state troopers are patrolling the state’s highways during peak traffic periods and special enforcement campaigns.
The Office of Prosecution Services will use its grant to provide additional education, legal research, resources and training for district attorneys and their staffs on traffic safety related issues.
“Laws pertaining to speeding and impaired driving are meant to reduce crashes, prevent injuries and save lives. Alabama intends to enforce those laws,” Gov. Ivey said. “I commend our state law enforcement officers for the jobs they do, and I urge drivers to obey those laws and drive defensively.”
ALEA will use funds to pay overtime to state troopers during enforcement campaigns and to monitor areas where crashes involving speeding and impaired driving are most likely to occur. Funds will also be used to train officers to recognize an impaired driver as opposed to one who has a medical condition.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants. Funds were provided to the state from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“ADECA joins Gov. Ivey in encouraging drivers to make good decisions before and after getting behind the steering wheel,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “Our agency is pleased to be a part of this traffic safety enforcement program.”
ADECA administers an array of programs supporting law enforcement and traffic safety, economic development, energy conservation, water resource management and recreation development.
