HAMMOND — The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office has been awarded nearly $100,000 in grant money from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission to more effectively enforce traffic laws.

The funding is an increased renewal of the parish's previous grant from LHSC. The $97,000 in funds is the largest in agency history, Sheriff Gerald Sticker said Friday.

The money will be used to cover the cost of extra patrols aimed at enforcing seat belt, speeding, distracted driving and DWI laws, as well as to conduct operations aimed at preventing underage drinking.

"We are grateful that our efforts to meet the mission of this grant program have been recognized for a third year and rewarded with an increased amount to expand that impactful work," Sheriff Sticker said. "This effort is about saving lives, period, and we appreciate the assistance from the LHSC in working toward that goal."