The Summer Holiday Enforcement Program (SHEP) for Federal Fiscal Year 2026, administered by the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO), provides funding for Ohio law enforcement agencies to conduct High Visibility Enforcement (HVE) efforts during key traffic safety campaign periods. SHEP focuses on reducing fatalities through proactive enforcement activities that address traffic violations such as impaired driving, speed, occupant protection, and aggressive driving.

Eligible agencies must have an active road patrol and conduct routine traffic enforcement. To qualify, the agency’s jurisdiction must have experienced an average of at least 1.67 motor vehicle-related fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024 (minimum of 5 fatal crashes total), based on Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data. Agencies may not already have an approved FFY 2026 IDEP/STEP grant to qualify for SHEP.

Participating agencies must commit to:

Conducting overtime enforcement during all mandatory blitz periods, including:

Distracted Driving Month (April 2026)

Click It or Ticket (May 18–31, 2026)

Fourth of July (July 2–5, 2026)

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over (August 14 – September 7, 2026)

Collaborating with other jurisdictions on enforcement along common corridors.

Submitting press releases to local media upon receiving the grant award and publicizing each blitz event.

The grant allows for up to 350 hours of overtime traffic enforcement. Only labor expenses (salaries and wages) related to approved activities during blitz periods are reimbursable. All expenditures must be pre-approved via a Request to Purchase (RTP) form. This is a reimbursement-only program—agencies must incur expenses before requesting reimbursement.

Unallowable expenses include vehicle mileage, equipment, food, paid advertising, alcohol, lobbying, and costs associated with grant proposal preparation. Agencies must submit monthly expenditure reports, and a final report and reimbursement claim are due by November 1, 2026, or penalties may apply.

Proposals must be submitted through the GRANTS Plus system by May 15, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Agencies must designate an Authorizing Official, Project Director, and Fiscal Officer in the proposal. Full guidelines and additional proposal requirements are outlined in the FFY 2026 Grant Solicitation Package available at https://otso.ohio.gov.