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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 30, 2000)
Safety drive buckles down on seat-belt law offenders ■Accidents involving motorists without seat belts on cost Americans $14.3 billion each year By Josh Ryneal Oregon Daily Emerald The Lane County Sheriff’s Of fice ended a week-long traffic en forcement blitz on Monday, dur ing which they tried to target drivers who ignore seat-belt laws. Officers waited along roads and patrolled highways, hoping to make motorists realize the risk of driving unbuckled, Patrol Sergeant Steve Broome said. “We have been working with two programs — the 3 Flags Seat Belt Enforcement Program and Operation ABC — to make sure that seat-belt laws are enforced,” Broome said. The 3 Flags program, which is primarily implemented on the West Coast and Canada, provides federal grants to pay officers over time to enforce seat-belt and other safety violations. Operation Amer ica Buckles up Children (ABC) utilizes partnerships between law enforcement agencies nationwide and the National Highway Safety Administration. The Lane County Sheriff’s Of fice has been a part of the 3 Flags program for three years, and has been a member of Operation ABC since its inception in 1997. “These programs are key to sav ing lives and preventing critical injuries,” Broome said. According to a National Safety Council study, Americans pay $14.3 billion per year in injury-re lated costs incurred by motorists not wearing seat belts, and 60 per cent of children who die in vehi cle crashes are unrestrained. Broome said that the sheriffs of fice picked the week of May 22-29 because it contained the first holi day weekend of the summer. “We see a large volume of traffic this time of year, and we want to do saturation patrols to do our part for this program,” Broome said. Broome said that deputies tried to target a specific area and either patrol it or park by the side of the road and observe motorists. “It has been a very successful ef fort,” he said. Law enforcement The Lane County Sheriff's Office participated during the Memorial Day weekend in two national pro grams aimed at enforcing required seat belt usage including: 3 Flags, which pays officers over time wages to enforce traffic safety laws America Buckles up Children, which coordinates efforts between law enforcement agencies and the National Highway Safety Adminis tration. SOU RCE: Lane County Sheriff’s Office The Eugene Police Department is also part of the 3 Flags program and has been involved in a two month effort to enforce seat-belt laws around the city. EPD spokesman Dave Poppe said that while the program is con sidered routine enforcement, they have “written literally hundreds of citations so far.” “Eugene is already pretty good about wearing seat belts,” he said. “We have something like a 94 per cent compliance rate.” CRIME WATCH Reported May 10through May 20 May 16, Disorderly Conduct, 1300 block Patterson Street: Man wander ing in traffic threatened police when they tried to take him into custody May 16, Prohibited Skateboarding, 1300 block Alder Street: Skate boarder was riding in a prohibited area and ignored police orders to stop May 16, Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument, University parking lot number 42: Forged University parking permit May 19, Theft by Mail, 2000 block Harris Street: Two checks stolen from outgoing mail May 19, Criminal Mischief , Erb Memorial Union: Suspect arrested for vandalizing parked bicycles along 1300 block Alder Street SOU RCE. Eugene Police Department Get a higher score anytime, anywhere. Study this summer in one of our 160 centers or online! | Cali our Eugene Center 345-4420 and ask about our “Summer Study Buddy Special" $ <§. 1 § ? World Leader in Test Prep • kaptest.com I UPCOMING EUGENE CLASSES: MCAT June 1st GRE June 3rd UPCOMING CORVALLIS CLASSES: GMAT June 22nd GMAT June 24th LSAT June 25th LSAT June 24th TOEFL July 17th GRE July 8th P/SAT August 14th P/SAT July 15th 3 Summer Gear PERFORMANCE GRT H OMM DRY™ TGCHNBU6Y ARRIVING DAILY Columbia's GRT apparel is ready for traveling, trekking & training. Go anywhere Sport Utility! Columbia S{»xTswtxiK iioipasiv Convertible garmet designs where pants that convert into shorts and jackets that convert into vests. Hu JUmn&re 8av Stml r i MCKENZIE OUTFITTERS Valley River Center 2nd Level Up Escalator 541 343-2300 Need to get rid of that old computer? Get results with Oregon Daily Emerald Classifieds! Call 346-4343! OREGON $30,000 Scholarship Police Corps is a scholarship program paid for by the United States Department of Justice. Scholarships are offered on a competitive basis to students who agree to serve four years in a local police or sheriff’s office. Students accepted into the Police Corps receive up to $7,500 a year to cover expenses of study toward a baccalaureate or graduate degree. 1.800.848.3957 www.oregonpolicecorps.com
