The Benton Police Department is pleased to announce their 18th year of participation in the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP).
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. During 2010-2014 and average of 529 people lost their lives on Arkansas roadways each year. Over this same time period Arkansas averaged 146 alcohol related fatalities. (Operator had a Blood-Alcohol Content level or 0.08 percent or higher). During this same time period Benton posted 20 traffic fatalities, 3 of which were alcohol related.
The STEP grant program also allows for additional enforcement of speeding and other traffic related laws, and provides funding for the purchase of child safety seats. The seats are given to the public for free and are installed by BNPD officers trained in child safety seat installment.
The STEP program has also provided funding for distracted driving awareness and education campaigns in the community. This has allowed for various community outreach programs and material to be utilized that would have otherwise not been provided.
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. Follow BNPD on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Benton-Police-Department/221829174560849