Gov. Heineman Announces 49 “Click It or Ticket” Thanksgiving Enforcement Grants

(Lincoln, Neb.)  Gov. Dave Heineman today announced the awarding of nearly $225,000 in federal highway safety grant awarded to 49 law enforcement agencies that will be participating in the Nebraska “Click It or Ticket” Mobilization efforts November 24 through November 30. 

This annual traffic enforcement campaign effort will involve 26 police departments, 23 sheriff’s offices and the Nebraska State Patrol. Law enforcement officers will be conducting special operations to address the expected increased traffic due to the Thanksgiving holiday and the Nebraska football game. There will be a special emphasis on child restraint and safety belt law compliance.

The funding will be providing approximately 8,000 hours of additional traffic enforcement during the mobilization period. Grants provide support for additional dispatch personnel and higher operational costs for patrol vehicles during these operations. Grants are awarded by the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety and provide funding for vehicle check-points and saturation patrols at potential high crash locations. 

“These kinds of operations have contributed to the overall decline in the state’s traffic fatality toll,” Gov. Heineman said.  “Both Nebraska’s observed statewide safety belt use and child restraint use rates have reached all-time highs of 83% and 97% respectively.”

The Nebraska State Patrol will use $27,150 in grant funding for 570 hours of overtime during the Mobilization period.

Col. Bryan Tuma, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, said, “The Thanksgiving holiday combined with a University of Nebraska home football game on Friday always presents challenges for motorists and law enforcement. With the assistance of the other participating agencies, we will do everything possible to make our roadways safe for everyone.”

Beverly Neth, Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles, said, “This high visibility enforcement will be supported with an extensive media campaign because the Nebraska experience is that traffic fatalities keep going down while occupant restraint use goes up.” 

A breakdown of grants awarded: Nebraska “Click It or Ticket” Mobilization Grants