MACON — The Coastal Area Traffic Enforcement Network was one of several organizations to take home a prize recently when the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety hosted its 15th annual Governor’s Challenge Awards at the Macon Centreplex.

An annual recognition program for law-enforcement agencies of all sizes from all over the state, the program features awards in seven categories based on department size as well as several other specialty categories.

CATEN serves 14 counties, including Liberty and Long. Led by Coordinator Capt. Luther Hires, CATEN won the Traffic Enforcement Network category.

Designed to award outstanding achievements in highway safety enforcement and education, the awards recognize agencies for the approach and effectiveness of their overall highway-safety programs. Agencies are evaluated not just for enforcement initiatives, but for innovative problem-solving in their communities, using public information activities, and creating departmental policies that support their traffic enforcement campaign efforts.

“We are extremely grateful for the hard work of every agency in our Coastal network, and I want to congratulate them as well as Capt. Hires for this achievement,” said GOHS Director Harris Blackwood. “We hope all of our winners continue to compete in Governor’s Challenge for years to come.”

“Governor’s Challenge is now in its 15th year. One of the reasons we do this is to make sure all these law-enforcement agencies know that no matter how large or small, no achievement goes unnoticed,” GOHS Law Enforcement Services Director Roger Hayes said.

For more information, go to www.gahighwaysafety.org or call 404-656-6996.