JCSD awarded grants to try to make travel on Jones County roads safer

From Jones County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Office

LAUREL, Miss. (WDAM) – Two state grants totaling more than a quarter-million dollars aim to help the Jones County Sheriff’s Department make county roads safer for travel.

JCSD received a combined $257,626 from the Mississippi Office of Highway Safety to be used on efforts to curtail impaired driving and preserving occupant protection.

“We are grateful to the Mississippi Office of Highway Safety for once again awarding JCSD grant funds to enforce Mississippi impaired driving and occupant protection laws,” Jones County Sheriff Joe Berlin said.

JCSD was awarded $132,038 for “interdiction of impaired drivers,” which includes DUI-Alcohol and DUI-Drugs/Other.

Of that total, $104,510 is for overtime for deputies working Special Traffic Enforcement Program details that use safety checkpoints and saturation patrols.

The balance of the grant, $27,528, will fund the procurement and installation of four laptop computers and printers for JCSD  patrol vehicles, four Breath Alcohol Testers and five reflective raincoats.

JCSD was also awarded $125,588 for seat belt/child safety seat enforcement.

Of that total, $100,000 is earmarked for overtime for deputies working STEP details using safety checkpoints and saturation patrols.

The balance, $25,588, will fund the procurement and installation of four laptop computers and printers in JCSD patrol vehicles.

“Please wear your seatbelts, buckle your kids up in age appropriate child safety seats, and don’t drive impaired,” Berlin said. “Saving lives, preventing injuries, and changing outcomes is the goal of our enforcement efforts.”

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