CLEVELAND – Sheriff Frank Bova today announced that Cuyahoga County has secured two grant awards totaling $71,367.62 through the State of Ohio’s High Visibility Enforcement Overtime (HVEO) Program.

“Bringing in State and Federal funding is one of the most important ways we can promote safety and security for families across Cuyahoga County,” said Bova. “This latest round of grant funding will allow the Sheriff’s Department to ensure better traffic safety and more effectively crack down on alcohol and drug-related incidents.”

The Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) High Visibility Enforcement (HVE), which is receiving $30,544.87, is a universal traffic safety approach designed to create deterrence and change unlawful traffic behaviors. HVE combines highly visible and proactive law enforcement targeting a specific traffic safety issue.

Impaired Driving Enforcement Program (IDEP), which is receiving $40,822.75, works to reduce the number of traffic-related fatal crashes and to decrease the number of alcohol-related fatal and serious injury crashes. Sheriff's Department will increase visibility and presence in higher risk areas to meet these goals.

The HVEO program uses money appropriated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Federal Highway Safety Act of 1966 directed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation to jointly administer various highway safety projects.

This Federal grant program provides Federal funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation , which are administered by the Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS), Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP)/Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) to eligible entities to be used in part for, but not limited to, traffic safety education, enforcement and awareness.