Council accepts two Highway Safety grants for DUI and traffic enforcement; members press for clarity on quotas and deadlines

The Meridian City Council voted to accept two federal highway-safety grants administered by the Mississippi Office of Highway Safety: a $60,375 grant for alcohol and drug-impaired driving enforcement and a $75,000 grant for police traffic safety services, including child-restraint and seat-belt enforcement. A police representative told the council the grants reimburse officers' overtime on designated days off and for special enforcement periods such as holiday weekends. The representative said funds are commonly used to pay officers working overtime for checkpoints and increased patrols. Council members raised concerns about a line in the grant materials that lists projected enforcement totals. One council member pressed staff to confirm that officers would not stop drivers simply to reach a numerical quota. The police representative replied, "We're just going to enforce the law as it's written," and stated the projections were research-based estimates, not enforcement quotas. The representative also confirmed staff would ensure an August 29 submission deadline was met. Why it matters: The grants provide overtime funding for targeted enforcement campaigns and can increase police presence during high-risk periods. Council members sought assurance that the department would not set arrest quotas. Discussion vs. decision: Discussion was about grant use, deadlines and enforcement projections; the formal action was council approval of the grant agreements. Next steps: Staff will submit the grant paperwork by the stated August 29 deadline and implement enforcement activities within grant terms.