SUBJECT: Seatbelt Enforcement

Date: February 4, 2005

The Post Falls Police Department will be teaming up with The Idaho Transportation Department, Office of Traffic & Highway Safety and other local law enforcement agencies in a seatbelt enforcement effort that will run from February 7-19, 2005 .

The main goal of this enforcement effort is to save lives, reduce serious injuries, and reduce the societal costs of crashes by increasing the use of seat belts, booster seats, and child safety seats. The national average is 80% usage. Idaho ’s seat belt usage rate in passenger cars, vans and SUV’s is 79%, but usage in pickups is just 62% which brings down the statewide average to 74%.

We are proud to announce that our recent pre-enforcement seat belt survey shows the Post Falls usage rate at approx. 83%. There will be subsequent seat belt mobilizations to be held in May and November of 2005. During these enforcement efforts the Post Falls Police Department will have officers working on grant funded overtime hours from the Office of Traffic & Highway Safety enforcing seat belt violations. Please be sure to buckle up.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call Sgt. Pat Knight at 777-2245 or pknight@postfallspolice.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Sgt. Pat Knight

AUTHOR: Sgt. Pat Knight