NATCHEZ — If you see more flashing blue lights in Natchez over the next year, don’t be surprised.

The Natchez Police Department received a $35,000 federal grant earlier this month for more traffic enforcement.

“The majority of the money will be used to pay an officer overtime,” Natchez Police Chief Mike Mullins said. “They will be out strictly doing traffic enforcement work, not answering routine calls. They’ll be in neighborhoods as well as on the highway.”

Drivers running red lights and stop signs, speeding and not buckled up will be more likely to get caught.

“It’s going to be a great asset to us to have an officer out there at no cost to the city,” Mullins said.

The grant is especially important now, since the department has several officers out injured and serving in the military.

“It puts one more officer on patrol who is available in emergencies,” Mullins said.

The grant requires the department to conduct two safety checkpoints each month and more during holidays, such as Christmas, New Year’s, Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Traffic stops aren’t aimed at spoiling drivers’ fun. Traffic enforcement saves lives, Mullins said.

“The goal for any traffic enforcement is to reduce injuries, accidents and fatalities,” he said. “It makes your streets and roadways safer. Anytime you have increased compliance with traffic laws, streets are going to be safer for the community.”

There are other benefits to increased traffic enforcement, too, Mullins said.

“We solve crimes gathered from information we get from traffic stops,” Mullins said. “Officers often make arrests on traffic stops for outstanding warrants, fugitives from other areas. Oftentimes, we recover stolen property. We have found officers actively enforcing traffic law is a tremendous benefit in reducing the overall crime rate.”