NCJ Number
146697
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 41 Issue: 12 Dated: (December 1993) Pages: 55-58
Date Published
1993
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A lieutenant in the Boca Raton (FL) Police Department tells of his department's award-winning efforts at safety belt law enforcement.
Abstract
The department participated in the National Chiefs' Challenge, a police agency competition that was introduced in 1992 by the International Association of Chiefs of Police to honor safety belt law enforcement efforts. Four phases to the department's approach were as follows: 1) Policy Statements--The traffic enforcement policy concurs with statutory law and states that officers should check for motorists' compliance with safety belt laws; 2) Officer Training--Officers were encouraged to wear their safety belts, and further, to positively influence the safety belt use of their families, and to enforce passenger restraint laws, on three accounts: it's the law, it's departmental policy, and it makes good sense; 3) Public Information/Education--The safety belt message was delivered in schools and various media, in connection with an anti- drug program and a community policing program, on a float in a parade, on police reports, at roadblocks, in an airplane banner, and on water bill statements; December 1992 was declared Boca Buckle-Up Month; and 4) Enforcement Activity-- In November 1992, officers issued warnings to motorists not using their safety belts, and the following month, focused on giving citations. Results during those two months were 845 warnings and 330 citations issued for violations of safety belt and child seat laws.