LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska State Patrol and the Omaha Police Department earlier this year had been ordered to halt their spending of funds seized during drug busts and traffic stops because of irregularities found by a federal compliance check.

The agencies received the order from the U.S. Department of Justice earlier this year. The state patrol’s freeze lasted six months, and the Omaha police spending freeze lasted nine months.

Col. Brad Rice, the superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, said the freeze was mostly the result of disagreements about rules and accounting practices, which have now been cleared up.

A Justice Department spokesman, Peter Carr, said such freezes are not uncommon and are not considered punishments.