The story
A meeting packet for the Habersham County Board of Commissioners described a Sheriff's Office application to the Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) for HEAT and Traffic Enforcement Network (TEN) grants for fiscal year 2027, saying the county was "requesting this grant to fund an enforcement effort focusing on alcohol and drug impaired driving," with a target of 5,760 enforcement activity hours.
The HEAT grant portion was listed at $182,262.40, described as funding the salaries of three employees plus training and fuel/tires for their three vehicles. A separate TEN grant of $36,388.88 was listed to fund additional expenses for the Northeast Traffic Enforcement Network. The packet also requested $2,600 for a LIDAR speed-detection unit, a RADAR speed-detection device, and up to $15,000 for routine maintenance on the unit's three vehicles.
The item was placed on the board's February 16, 2026 agenda as "Consider/Approve Renewal of Governors Office of Highway Safety HEAT Grant and Traffic Enforcement Network Grant for Sheriff's Office."
The Habersham County Board of Commissioners approved the renewal of the HEAT and Traffic Enforcement Network grants for the Sheriff's Office on February 16, 2026, by a 4-0 vote.