The Athens-Clarke County Police Department is pleased to announce that in October of 2018 it was awarded a grant of $54,414.61 from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). The grant, which will continue through September of 2019, will help finance the goal of reducing crashes, injuries and fatalities caused by impaired driving and speeding, while also increasing seatbelt use and educating the public about traffic safety and the dangers of DUI. 

“Part of our mission is to facilitate the implementation of programs with the goal of reducing crashes and saving lives in our state,” Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Director Allen Poole said. “We believe this grant will allow the Athens-Clarke County Police Department to continue their efforts to promote highway safety in the Athens-Clarke County area through outreach, education, and enforcement.” 

"The HEAT grant goals are to combat deaths and injuries from impaired driving crashes and excessive speeding, while also educating the public about traffic safety and the dangers of DUI. These goals align perfectly with the ACCPD and its mission of keeping our roadways safe," stated Deputy Chief of Police Jeff Clark. 

As law enforcement partners in the Operation Zero Tolerance DUI and Click It Or Ticket seatbelt campaigns, the ACCPD will also conduct mobilizations throughout the year in coordination with GOHS’s year-round waves of high visibility patrols, multi-jurisdictional road checks and sobriety checkpoints. 

For more information on the Athens-Clarke County Police H.E.A.T grant award, contact Lt. Jon McIlvaine at 706-208-1718 ext. 223 or jonathan.mcilvaine@athensclarkecounty.com. For more information on GOHS and its highway safety programs visit www.gahighwaysafety.org.