By John McCarthy
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS - The state Senate found a way to hire 50 more State Highway Patrol troopers to help cut overtime costs and provide more protection while Ohio is under a heightened security status, backers of the plan said Tuesday.

The Senate authorized transferring $10 million from a program to beautify Ohio's highway rest areas to the patrol as part of the transportation budget the Senate approved Tuesday.

The patrol start hiring the troopers after July 1.

The additional troopers would be stationed at the Statehouse and other government buildings and at truck scales along Ohio's highways to inspect for dangerous cargo, patrol spokesman Lt. Rick Fambro said.

Since the state's five-level alert system was adopted after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the patrol has increased staffing at state buildings.