Interim Bogalusa Police Chief Gene Crosby said due to a state grant, city officers will be out in force over the holiday period cracking down on DWI offenses, seatbelt violations and underage drinking.

Crosby said the grant comes from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission and Crosby explained the grant money is used to pay overtime specifically during holidays to crack down on drunk driving, among other things.

“The program is funded for the next 12 months and it pays for additional overtime hours during holiday periods,” Crosby said. “This is a 100 percent reimbursement, so it doesn’t cost the city anything.”

According to a press release, The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, in partnership with the National Highway Safety Administration, has awarded the Bogalusa Police Department a grant in the amount of $ 63,115.

According to 2015 statistics from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission 47 percent of all traffic fatalities in Louisiana were alcohol-related.

The goal of the program is to reduce the number of traffic injuries / fatalities that are related to DWI, seatbelt, and child restraint violations.

In addition to vehicle stops, officers will also be on the lookout for the possession or consumption of alcohol by anyone under 21 and businesses selling alcoholic beverages to minors.