Commissioners approve Put the Phone Away or Pay' enforcement grant for sheriff's office

Lincoln County commissioners voted to authorize the chair to sign a Nebraska Office of Highway Safety grant application called Put the Phone Away or Pay' for use by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office.

The grant, presented at the March meeting by Chris McCaulay, would provide overtime funding so deputies can run traffic-focused patrol shifts aimed at identifying distracted driving. McCaulay said the program is intended as a reminder that cellphone use while driving remains a violation and that enforcement will be tied to other traffic stops rather than serving as a primary stop alone.

They wanted this grant to be done just as a reminder to drivers that even though cell phones are a daily part of our lives now that you still can't use it while driving,' McCaulay said during the presentation.

McCaulay reviewed crash statistics provided with the grant application and by state reporting: he cited research used in the application showing that using a phone while driving increases crash risk and gave statewide totals included in the packet for recent years. He told commissioners the grant would cover overtime for deputies on specific traffic-enforcement shifts but that those deputies could respond to emergency calls if needed.

Commissioners moved and seconded the authorization to apply; the motion passed on roll call. The board and presenters characterized the grant as a modest, preventive measure designed to reduce injury crashes through targeted enforcement rather than a broader regulatory change.

The next step is for the county to finalize and sign the application and return it to the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety for consideration. The application packet presented to the board listed the grant amount requested as approximately $4,500.