YORK COUNTY, SC (YCSO NEWS) – The York County Sheriff’s Office is proud to accept the 2020 Highway Safety Grant from the Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs. The Sheriff’s Office has been awarded $252,392 to create a Traffic Enforcement Unit.
The money from the grant will be used to pay for the salaries of two deputies, new patrol cars and equipment. This team of specialized deputies will work to make York County roadways safer by enforcement of traffic laws, targeting drunk drivers, and deterring reckless drivers.
“This will be a small but efficient team and will work closely with the South Carolina Highway Patrol to combat problem traffic areas in York County,” said Sheriff Kevin Tolson. “The end goal each day for these Deputies is for them to go home safe and citizens to go home safe.”
The officers on the team will also work closely with other agencies in the 16th circuit law enforcement network participating in programs such as “Sober or Slammer” and “The 100 Deadly Days of Summer”. Team members will also spend time educating the public about impaired driving at public events and schools.
According to South Carolina Highway Patrol statistics, there have been a total of 48 traffic fatalities in York County in 2019. There were 35 traffic fatalities in 2018 as of December 19th.
The Traffic Enforcement Team began operations on December 16, 2019.