C.O. police join Oregon seat belt campaign
Law enforcement agencies from Deschutes and Crook counties are joining the state of Oregon in a 14-day traffic enforcement blitz dedicated to proper safety belt and child restraint use from February 11 through February 24.
Local agencies include the Bend Police Department, Crook County Sheriff’s Office, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Prineville Police Department, and Redmond Police Department. (Jefferson County Sheriff Jim Adkins said his agency also is taking part.)
Participating agencies will provide regular and overtime enforcement focused on child restraint (safety belts and boosters), texting, speeding and other moving violations. The enforcement is funded by overtime funds through the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Today, most Oregon traffic enforcement agencies actively promote safety belt use within their jurisdictions. Statewide crash fatality and injury rates have dropped 59% and 37% respectively since the passage of the adult belt law in 1990.
The law, combined with active enforcement and education, has resulted in 2012 Oregon belt use rates of 97% (front seat) and 96% (all occupants), placing Oregon among the top two belt-use states in the U.S. This compares to a belt use average of 84% among all states.
This will be the first of three seat belt blitzes to be performed in 2013. For additional information, please contact Lieutenant Chris Carney at the Bend Police Department at 541-322-2978.
