The Hall County Sheriff’s Office recently received national recognition for its efforts in traffic and highway safety enforcement.

The agency was awarded first place in the nation for law enforcement agencies with 250 to 500 officers by the International Association of Chiefs of Police at the organization’s annual banquet in New Orleans, Hall County Sheriff’s Maj. Jeff Strickland said Friday.

Strickland said the award is designed to recognize and reward law enforcement agencies such as the Hall County Sheriff’s Office for their life-saving highway safety enforcement programs, recognizing the best law enforcement professionals in the nation for their efforts to reduce fatal traffic crashes by increasing safety belt use, slowing down speeders and reducing impaired and aggressive driving.

In September, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office was also recognized as first in their class by the state of Georgia’s Governor’s Office of Highway Safety for the agency’s efforts in traffic enforcement and traffic safety.

“It is quite an honor to receive this recognition,” Sheriff Steve Cronic said.

Hall County has seen a decrease in fatal accidents in recent years. There were 36 traffic deaths in 2005, 20 traffic deaths last year and 17 so far this year.

There are 10 Hall County Sheriff’s deputies devoted exclusively to traffic enforcement.