Law enforcement agencies throughout the state will be able to replace more of their bulletproof vests this year after funding for a state grant program was restored. Attorney General Paula Dow’s office announced today it will distribute $3.5 million this year, compared with $1.3 million it gave out in 2009.

Last year’s drop was due to then-Gov. Jon Corzine’s administration diverting the money, raised by $1 surcharges on traffic tickets and bail forfeitures, for use in the general fund, attorney general’s spokesman Peter Aseltine said.

“Police officers devote their lives to protecting us, and we need to do all that we can to make them safer,” Dow said in a written statement.

Some $1.9 million of this year’s grant will go to local police departments, more than $830,000 to state agencies and nearly $775,000 to county law enforcement agencies. Bulletproof vests can range in cost from about $500 to $800 a piece. Read full article in Star Ledger.