ROGERS -- Policemen will have more opportunity to make road safety a priority with help from the Selective Traffic Enforcement Project.
The City Council on Tuesday authorized a subgrant agreement with the Arkansas State Police to facilitate continued participation in the project.
The project pays for overtime hours accrued by the Police Department for children's car seat safety, seat belt enforcement, as well as traffic and DWIs, said Chief Hayes Minor.
The National Highway Administration awards the money to various states, and then the state awards to cities particularly for traffic enforcement, he said during a finance committee meeting.
Minor said the department could receive up to $70,000 this year, which is $30,000 more than the first year of participating in the project.
"It's kind of old hat for us now, we've done it so long," Minor said. "There's opportunities out there for any kind of traffic safety initiative you want to do that's law enforcement related."
Alderman Marge Wolf noted that was a sizable amount.
Minor said the money will purchase between 7,000 and 10,000 child safety seats for vehicles that will be awarded to the less fortunate during safety seat clinics.
Alderman Clay Kendall agreed the project was needed, given that the majority of child safety seats are installed incorrectly.
The council also authorized rezoning 2.68 acres at 2200 W. Laurel Ave. from residential office to residential multifamily at six units per acre.
NW News on 09/27/2017