(ELKHART) – A grant has been awarded to help an Northeast Indiana organization to help prevent traffic injuries and fatalities.

The Elkhart County Traffic Safety Partnership was awarded a grant of $105,875 from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. The funding was provided by the National Traffic Safety Highway Administration, as part of the State's Comprehensive Highway Injury Reduction Program, or CHIRP.

Captain Michael Culp of the Elkhart County Sheriff's Office says the money will be used by the department to conduct overtime patrols and carry out several targeted enforcement campaigns throughout the year. Those include national mobilizations, like “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Click It or Ticket”, as well as others developed and driven by the State, such as the “Stop Arm Violation Enforcement” program.

Although officers will be watching for all traffic violations during the enforcement periods, the campaigns mainly target dangerous, impaired or unrestrained drivers. They will occur during peak travel seasons and notorious drinking holidays, like St. Patrick's Day and Labor Day weekend.

The Elkhart County Traffic Safety Partnership includes the Elkhart, Goshen, Nappanee, Bristol and Wakarusa Police Departments and the Elkhart County Sheriff's Office.