CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A $5 million federal grant, will help to put computers in police cars.
The Department of Transportation says the money is West Virginia’s reward for joining four other states in achieving a seatbelt use rate above 85 percent in 2006 and 2007.
West Virginia joins Georgia, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Utah in receiving a Safety Belt Performance Grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
This is the first time West Virginia has received funds from this grant program.
Governor Joe Manchin says “We’re very proud of the number of West Virginians who’ve recognized how easy it is to buckle up to save lives.”
According to a press release, West Virginia officials plan to use some of the grant funding to pay for laptop computers for use in police cars, which help report crash data more accurately and more quickly.
Currently, the reporting process can take weeks.