INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Eric J. Holcomb today announced grant funding for increased traffic enforcement at school-bus stops. About 230 Indiana police agencies receive federal grants for highly visible traffic enforcement including speeding, aggressive driving and school bus stop-arm violations. The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute is awarding approximately $380,000 to 39 agencies for overtime school-bus stop enforcement over the next two months.

“Indiana police officers will be enforcing increased fines and penalties for drivers who recklessly pass bus stops and drive aggressively,” Gov. Holcomb said. “This is one of many steps that Indiana is taking to protect the safety of school children as classes resume.”

Gov. Holcomb signed a new school-bus safety law that took effect July 1. State law requires a school bus to use flashing lights and extend its stop arm while loading and unloading students along a roadway. State law also requires drivers to stop while the arm is extended. On highways divided by a physical barrier or unimproved median, traffic traveling in the opposite direction as the school bus may proceed with due caution.

Law-enforcement agencies awarded additional grant funding are listed below in alphabetical order. Police agencies may apply for future traffic-enforcement grants, including school-bus stop enforcement grants, through Aug. 30 at www.in.gov/cji.

1. Avon Police: $7,812
2. Boone County Sheriff: $23,650
3. Brown County Sheriff: $10,000
4. Cedar Lake Police: $4,000
5. Connersville Police: $3,111
6. Chesterton Police: $12,000
7. Decatur County Sheriff: $3,000
8. Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation Police: $1,238
9. Fort Wayne Police: $49,975
10. Fulton County Sheriff: $2,500
11. Griffith Police: $5,000
12. Hamilton County Sheriff: $5,000
13. Hammond Police: $8,000
14. Hancock County Sheriff: $6,000
15. Hobart Police: $10,000
16. Howard County Sheriff: $3,000
17. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police: $44,000
18. Jackson County Sheriff: $39,680
19. La Porte Police: $3,000
20. Lowell Police: $4,000
21. Madison County Sheriff: $6,500
22. Marshall County Sheriff: 3,300
23. Merrillville Police: $6,000
24. Mishawaka Police: $25,000
25. Morgan County Sheriff: $10,000
26. Muncie Police: $6,000
27. New Castle Police: $5,500
28. Newburgh Police: $4,000
29. Paoli Police: $1,050
30. Peru Police: $7,936
31. Princeton Police: $4,000
32. Rockport Police: $4,713
33. Scott County Sheriff: $7,353
34. Sellersburg Police: $10,000
35. Seymour Police: $3,000
36. Tell City Police: $1,200
37. Tippecanoe County Sheriff: $15,750
38. Vigo County Sheriff: $9,120
39. Winona Lake Police: $8,000

###

Media contact: Will Wingfield, Indiana Criminal Justice Institute: 317-344-9455 or wwingfield1@cji.in.gov