Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Traffic topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County approves $10,000 'Make It Click' seat‑belt enforcement grant for mid‑May campaign
Summary
Sheriff's Office presented a Make It Click highway‑safety grant request (May 15–31, 2026) focused on seat‑belt enforcement; commissioners approved the $10,000 application to support overtime and enforcement efforts with a state requirement that 60% of enforcement occur between 3 p.m. and midnight.
Lincoln County commissioners approved a state highway safety grant application to fund an intensified seat‑belt enforcement campaign in mid‑May.
Officer Chris McCauley briefed the board on the Office of Highway Safety’s Make It Click grant, which runs May 15–31, 2026 and focuses on encouraging seat‑belt use. The state requires that 60% of enforcement hours occur between 3 p.m. and midnight, a time frame the sheriff’s office said drives higher traffic and higher likelihood of unbelted occupants. The sheriff’s office requested $10,000 from the state to cover enforcement overtime and associated costs for deputies during the campaign.
McCauley explained that seat‑belt violations remain secondary offenses in Nebraska and deputies normally rely on a separate primary stop (speeding, equipment violation, no license) to observe and cite belt violations. The board asked procedural questions about enforcement and data collection; McCauley and staff explained typical operations and how funds translate to deputy participation.
A commissioner moved and seconded to approve the grant application and authorize signatures; the board called roll and approved the request. The county will execute the grant paperwork and return copies to the sheriff’s office for implementation during the scheduled campaign period.
