The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.

The grant will go toward the purchase of traffic safety, enforcement and education equipment for the ECSO and other agencies in the Southeast Traffic Enforcement Network.

“We have participated for the last several years,” said county finance director Joanna Wright. “It provides equipment for traffic enforcement and safety.”

The county will be reimbursed by the GOHS for the grant money it spends. Wright estimated her office spends 10-15 hours making sure the county is complying with the GOHS’ mandates for the grant.

“For the amount of money we’re getting it, it’s worth it,” she said.

The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety encourages local law enforcement agencies to participate in the electronic crash report and citation system, which provides for better data analysis, officer safety and possible revenue opportunities, according to the GOHS.

The ECSO also will help the GOHS promote National Child Safety Passenger Week in September, Click It or Ticket Week in May, Operation Zero Tolerance in May and December and Drunk and Drugged Awareness Month in December.