Governor Robert Bentley has awarded two grants totaling some $1.2 million to assist state troopers in maintaining safety on Alabama’s highways. Those grants to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency will provide overtime funds for increased patrols to enforce drunken driving, seat belt and speeding laws.

“Drivers violating traffic safety laws put everyone traveling on Alabama’s roads in danger,” Bentley said. “These increased patrols will help to reduce the number of accidents and encourage all motorists to follow the law.”

The grants help provide overtime for selective, localized enforcement throughout the year, in addition to participation in the national “Click It or Ticket” and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” traffic safety campaigns. The funding will allow troopers to set up checkpoints and increase patrols near locations with high rates of crashes known as hotspots.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement and public safety, economic development, energy conservation, water resource management and recreation.