Marion County Sheriff Tim Bailey announced today the Governor’s Highway Safety Office has awarded the sheriff’s office a $43,188.91 grant for the year 2010. The grant will fund overtime salaries for deputies to increase their presence on the county roadways.

"These funds are critical to ensuring that we are doing everything possible to keep our community safe," said Sheriff Bailey. "Based on crash data, we have identified SR. 4, SR. 423, SR. 309, SR. 95, and SR. 98 as a priority for Marion County and are pleased to work with our partner at the state level to address this safety issue."

The funds are passed through OTSO from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to support the efforts of safety partners statewide and focus on traffic safety priority areas such as restraint use, impaired driving, and excessive speed. In the past three years, Ohio roadway fatalities have decreased to near record lows.

There were 1,191 fatalities on Ohio’s roads in 2008, down from 1,257 in 2007 and 1,239 in 2006.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office was presented a new radar unit for participation in the program by Program Director Bob Painter and Regional Liaison Frank Arvay.

The 2009 grant amount was $33,882.11 and the following are the statistical results of the program in Marion County. Targeted enforcement in 2009 on State Routes 4 and 95 saw 667 vehicles stopped for violations including: 176 for speed, 18 for seat belt, 7 for driving under suspension, and 32 for other violations including open container, drug possession, and other offense.