Kendall County Sheriff Receives Grant For 2026 Traffic Enforcement

KENDALL COUNTY, IL — The Kendall County Sheriff's Office received a grant to help fund traffic safety campaigns during the 2026 fiscal year, officials announced.

The Federal Fiscal Year 2026 Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program grant is funded by federal highway safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The money will support enforcement efforts "aimed at saving lives and reducing traffic crashes," according to a news release.

The grant year began Oct. 1 and runs through Sept. 30, 2026. Rather than awarding a fixed amount, the grant reimburses the sheriff's office for hours worked by deputies assigned to traffic enforcement during the grant period, Deputy Dan Briars told Patch.

"We are grateful for this grant, which allows us to increase our enforcement of impaired driving, seat belt, speeding, and other traffic safety laws under the banners of 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,' 'Click It or Ticket,' and 'Drive High, Get a DUI,'" Undersheriff Bobby Richardson said in a statement. "Our priority is ensuring the safety of everyone who uses our roadways by holding those who break the law accountable."

"Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" and "Click It or Ticket" are "key enforcement campaigns" that the sheriff's office will emphasize during "some of the deadliest times of the year," including St. Patrick's Day and Memorial Day.

"These high-visibility enforcement efforts are part of our ongoing mission to keep Illinois roads safe for all," officials wrote in the release.