ITHACA – Raymond P. Martinez, Commissioner, Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and Chair of the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC), today presented local officials with a facsimile check on behalf of Governor George E. Pataki, representing grant money that has been awarded to support traffic safety initiatives throughout the county.

"Funding from the Governor Pataki's Traffic Safety Committee will only serve to augment the overwhelming success New York State and local traffic safety initiatives have demonstrated in keeping our highways safe," said Commissioner Martinez. "New York's roadways today are safer than they have been since the early 1920s. With the help of communities and law enforcement agencies throughout the state, we will continue to take great strides to improve the safety of our highways and byways."

The New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) coordinates traffic safety activities in the state. GTSC consists of the heads of thirteen state agencies with traffic safety concerns. Chaired by the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Committee's mission is to promote and support the state's highway safety program to provide for the safe transportation of people and goods on New York's roadways. The Committee acts as the state's official liaison with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and works closely with a network of state and local agencies, non-profit organizations and private-sector partners to deliver quality traffic safety information, projects and services across the state.

 Local officials attending the presentation included:

Chief Tom Ferretti, Village of Trumansburg Police Department
Sheriff Peter Meskill, Tompkins County Sheriff's Department
Sergeant Chuck Howard, Cornell University Police Department
Deputy Chief David Barnes, Ithaca Police Department
Ms. Nancy Schuler, Chair Public Safety Committee of the Tompkins County Board of Representatives
John Beach, Tompkins County STOP-DWI Coordinator
Norm Wall, Ithaca College Office of Campus Safety

The following grants have been approved: