Click It or Ticket Enforcement Campaign Begins Monday in Douglas County
Written by Patrick Schneider on May 19, 2021
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. – Beginning Monday, May 24, 2021 and extending through Sunday, June 6, 2021 the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon will use federally funded overtime to educate the public about safety belt and child seat laws including a law passed in 2017 increasing safety for children under age two.
“These grant dollars allow us to educate the public in hopes of reducing injury or fatal car crashes,” Sgt. Mark Norris said. “Our goal isn’t to write citations, but to gain compliance with the law and to ensure the safety of the motoring public in Douglas County.”
Oregon Department of Transportation crash data for 2018 shows lack of safety belt or child restraint use was a factor in 28% or 86 of a total 311 motor vehicle occupant fatalities.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading nationwide cause of death for children ages one through twelve years old. In 2018, 1,845 children under twelve were injured in Oregon traffic crashes, 11 percent were reported not using a child restraint system. It is estimated that car seats may increase crash survival by 71% for infants under one year old and by up to 59% for toddlers aged one to four. Booster seats may reduce the chance of nonfatal injury among four to eight year-olds by 45% compared to safety belts used alone.
In 2017, an Oregon law was passed requiring children to ride in a rear-facing safety seat until they are at least two years old. A child over age two must continue to ride in a car seat with harness or in a booster until they reach age eight or 4’ 9” in height and the adult belt fits them correctly.
Overtime patrols are funded with federal grant dollars administered by the Oregon Department of Transportation and enhance the number of deputies on patrol.
