86 lines
4.4 KiB
Plaintext
86 lines
4.4 KiB
Plaintext
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October 1990
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POLICE PRACTICES:
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SEAT BELT AWARENESS PROGRAM
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The use of seat belts is probably the best available
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protection for automobile drivers and passengers from serious
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injury or death due to accidents. State administrators consider
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the use of seat belts so vital to the well-being of citizens that
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most States have mandated the use of these safety devices for all
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front-seat occupants. Yet, voluntary compliance with seat belt
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laws is waning. In fact, during spot checks, police officers in
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South Windsor, Connecticut, observed that only 1 person out of
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every 15 wore a seat belt. The question then raised is, ``What
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can law enforcement do to make the general public aware of the
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seat belt law and then get citizens to comply with it?''
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To address the problem, the South Windsor Police Department
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implemented a Seat Belt Awareness Program. This is an
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educational/enforcement program designed to encourage residents
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to use seat belts.
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PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
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The first hurdle, funding the project, was cleared when the
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Connecticut Safety Belt Coalition granted the necessary monies to
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cover the cost of the program. This non-profit safety group that
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encourages safety belt use also gave the department educational
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information that stressed voluntary compliance with State law.
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In addition, a local business joined in this community
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program. It provided the department with free merchandise
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give-aways to encourage seat belt use.
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PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION
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The Seat Belt Awareness Program ran during the month of
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August 1989. During the first 2 weeks, the department issued
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press releases informing residents of the program, why it was
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being implemented, how the program would be conducted, and where
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officers would be stationed.
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Starting with the third week, officers conducted
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informational stops. Occupants of vehicles stopped during this
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period, who were not wearing seat belts, were given a verbal
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warning and an information packet. The packet contained printed
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materials that explained how seat belts prevent injury and death
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and how many deaths would be prevented if occupants used seat
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belts. Those found wearing their seat belts received
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merchandise give-aways or coupons for ice cream, which had been
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provided by the safety belt coalition or local businesses.
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The final week of the program was enforcement week. During
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this week, officers issued 215 tickets charging drivers with
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failure to wear seat belts, an infraction of Connecticut General
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Statutes 14-100ac. Drivers were fined if they were not wearing
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seat belts; they received another fine if a front-seat passenger
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was not wearing one. If seat belts were worn improperly, only a
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verbal warning was given, and officers advised the occupant on
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how to wear seat belts correctly.
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Officers conducted both their informational and enforcement
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stops at the same time and same locations each week.
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Surprisingly, few complained about being issued a ticket, and
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many thanked the officers for reminding them to buckle up.
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PROGRAM SUCCESS
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The program succeeded in getting the residents of South
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Windsor to wear their seat belts. Officers observed that the
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ratio of persons wearing seat belts after the Safety Belt
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Awareness Program was 14 out of 15. By combining informational
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stops with enforcement, the police department in South Windsor
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brought about ``voluntary compliance'' to the Connecticut Seat
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Belt Law. More important, the police department demonstrated
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concern for the safety of South Windsor residents by encouraging
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them, their family members, and friends to buckle up and prevent
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tragedy.
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_______________
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Information for this column was submitted by Sgt. Thomas C.
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Hart of the South Windsor, Connecticut, Police Department.
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