Date: October 14, 2026
Prepared by: Tonya Woodworth, Director of Public Information
Email: PIO@flaglersheriff.com
Release #: 2026 – 221
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded $168,000 in grant funding to conduct targeted traffic enforcement and education programs to improve traffic safety and reduce crashes across Flagler County at no cost to local taxpayers. The funding was provided by the Florida Department of Transportation from Highway Traffic Safety Funds for fiscal year 2027.
The majority of the funding was awarded under a Motorcycle Safety Grant, totaling $90,000, to conduct proactive and targeted motorcycle education and enforcement. This includes educating motorcycle operators and passengers on motorcycle safety through the Safe Motorcycle and Rider Techniques (SMART) course.
The one-day SMART course, taught by the FCSO Motors Unit, has proven successful in helping motorcycle riders gain experience, particularly in crash mitigation and avoidance. This proactive approach benefits the motorcycling community and is designed to reduce motorcycle crashes involving serious injuries and fatalities.
A second grant was awarded in the amount of $25,000 as part of the Interstate Speed Prevention Project Grant, which covers costs associated with proactive traffic enforcement that targets speeding and reckless and aggressive drivers on the interstate.
The final grant, totaling $53,000, was awarded to support the Florida Sheriffs Association’s Teen Driver Challenge program to have a positive impact on the primary causes often contributing to teen driver crashes and injuries.
The FSA Teen Driver Challenge is offered at no cost to participants. The course goes beyond the basics and teaches defensive driving techniques and maneuvers to help teen drivers avoid deadly traffic crashes. It is also designed to educate students on the dangers of speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, texting while driving, and distracted driving.
For more information or to register for an upcoming session, visitflaglersheriff.com/public-interest/teen-driver-challenge.
“These grants allow us to take a proactive approach to traffic safety by educating motorcycle riders, holding dangerous and aggressive drivers accountable, and giving young drivers the skills they need to make better decisions behind the wheel,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Our goal is to prevent crashes, reduce serious injuries, and save lives throughout Flagler County. I believe in bringing home every grant we can so we are able to expand these important enforcement and education efforts without asking our local residents to cover the costs.”
These awards continue Sheriff Staly’s record of aggressively pursuing outside funding to bring advanced resources to FCSO at no cost to local taxpayers. Since Sheriff Staly took office, the agency has received more than $12 million in grant funding.
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