The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, in partnership with the National Highway Safety Administration, has awarded the Bogalusa Police Department a grant of $62,789.90.

Assistant Police Chief Gene Crosby said the funds would be used to carry out special traffic enforcement programs. Officers will patrol and conduct DWI/seatbelt checkpoints in an effort to enforce Louisiana’s DWI, seatbelt, and child restraint laws. Officers will also be on the lookout for the possession or consumption of alcohol by anyone under 21 and vendors selling alcoholic beverages to minors. The program is funded for the next 12 months with additional overtime hours designated for the holidays.

When comparing Louisiana’s 2016 statistics to 2015 statistics, the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission was successful in reducing the number of unrestrained fatalities from 284 to 247 and the number of fatal crashes involving drivers ages 15 to 20 from 80 to 74. Statistics indicate fatality accidents (drivers 15 to 20) were reduced for the fourth year in a row.

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