The Benton Police Department is pleased to announce their 19th year of participation in the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant program.
The STEP program is a grant funded by the federal government for officers to work overtime hours for seatbelt enforcement, speeding and DWI enforcement. The STEP grant enforcement initiative is designed to increase seat belt and child safety seat usage, and to apprehend those driving while intoxicated. Through this program the department is also awarded money for child safety seats, which are provided to the public at no charge and are installed by Benton Police Officers.
From October 2016 to September 2017 officers worked a total of 606 hours through the STEP grant program. The department was also awarded money toward the purchase of a new LIDAR equipment for speed enforcement.
In addition to regular enforcement, the BNPD will participate in state and federal mobilizations during the Thanksgiving holiday, a winter mobilization in December, around the Memorial Day holiday, July 4th holiday and Labor Day holiday.
The STEP program is funded through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.