DCSO joins statewide seat belt safety blitz

The Oregon Safety Belt Overtime Campaign is a statewide selective traffic enforcement program that seeks to reduce the number of motor vehicle-related deaths and injuries by increasing public awareness of laws regarding the three most prevalent factors contributing to traffic crash injuries: safety restraint use, speed, and impaired drivers.

A statewide observation survey in June 2014 found 98% of Oregon’s motoring public using safety belts.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is increasing traffic patrols during daylight hours for the purpose of enforcing seat belt and child restraint violations during this two week campaign.

Oregon law requires children less than forty pounds be restrained in a child seat. Children under one year or weighing less than twenty pounds must be restrained in a rear-facing child seat. A child over forty pounds must be restrained in either a child seat or a booster seat appropriate for their size until they reach age eight or 4’9″ tall AND the adult belt system fits them correctly.

The sheriff’s office will also be looking for driver’s operating a cell phone and/or texting while driving. Driver’s who are texting while driving are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash than driver’s who are focused on driving.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office along with the Oregon Department of Transportation encourages all drivers and passengers to make a conscious effort to use their seatbelt at all times while traveling in a motor vehicle regardless of the distance traveled. Furthermore, we encourage all drivers to drink responsibly. If drivers intend to drink, please plan ahead and use a designated driver or public transportation such as a taxi or the local bus system.