Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond announces the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office has officially been awarded a 2016-2017 RIDD Grant from the Tennessee Highway Safety Office for $76,000.
The RIID Grant, (Remove Impaired-Intoxicated Drivers), allows the HCSO the opportunity to use additional federal funds to support traffic enforcement operations for the sole purpose of removing impaired and/or intoxicated drivers from the roads in order to protect the community from crashes that may occur as a result of alcohol or drug impairment.
Every year, traffic safety advocates, non-profit organizations, emergency response personnel, law enforcement, District Attorneys’ offices, and other state agencies across Tennessee seek funding through grant applications offered by THSO. Applicants who meet the required data-driven criteria and highway safety standards are awarded grant funds to support THSO’s mission to reduce traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities. Grant funding provides essential highway safety training and equipment for law enforcement agencies, sophisticated crash data collection analysis technology, specialized DUI prosecutors, resources for emergency response personnel, and educational tools to help improve driver behavior.
This is not the first time the HCSO has received one of the RIDD Grants. Last year’s RIDD Grant allowed the HCSO to utilize overtime and additional hours for traffic enforcement. A total of 30 arrests were made during the 2014-2015 grant period verses a total of 23 DUI arrests made during the 2013-2014 grant period.
During the 2014-2015 grant period Hamilton County Sheriff's Office investigated a total of three fatal crashes in the unincorporated areas with one of them being alcohol related. Thanks to the additional RIDD Grant funding, deputies are removing more impaired and intoxicated drivers from the roads and it is clear lives are being saved, said officials.
Prior RIID Grants have allowed deputies and traffic personnel to also see improvements due to the higher visibility of more law enforcement personnel and increased enforcement measures. RIID Grants have allowed the HCSO to have additional manpower on the streets and the citizens in Hamilton County have been able to see an increased presence of law enforcement personnel.