The Department of Public Safety has received the green light to use $54,000 to buy a van for the transportation of inmates.
A bill which was passed by the Fono during the first regular session to use money in the ASG Traffic Rehabilitation Account for this purpose was signed into law last month by then Acting Governor, Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Ale.
The account is where the $10 fine for traffic citations is deposited.
According to the administration bill, DPS has determined that the most effective use of the funds that were available in the account is to purchase a 15 passenger van in order to safely transport inmates and prisoners.
The van that was in use to transport inmates for court cases is no longer fit to be on the road and the Territorial Correctional Facility was hard pressed to find transportation to get all of the inmates for their court appointments on time. ‘
In his letter to the Fono leaders informing them of the bill being signed into law, Talauega said, “DPS’ previous van is no longer operable and this is causing issues with scheduled appearances in court. This act solves this problem.”
The bill provides for an immediate effective date after passage by the Fono and signing by the governor.
The vehicle being purchased by DPS is a 2018 Ford Transit 350 15 passenger van.
