DEPUTIES TO CONDUCT ENHANCED PATROLS

August 16, 2022 9:50 a.m.

Beginning Monday, deputies with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will join law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon to educate the public about safety belt and child seat laws, including a law passed in 2017 increasing safety for children under age two.

A release said crash data from the Oregon Department of Transportation shows lack of safety belt or child restraint use was a factor in 32 percent or 100 of a total 311 motor vehicle occupant fatalities.

Lieutenant Brad O’Dell of DSCO said. “The overall goal is to educate the public and reduce the number of fatalities due to improper use or lack of use of the proper restraint systems”.

A release said 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 foot 9 inches in height, and the adult belt fits them correctly.

DCSO will have deputies on overtime to conduct the enhanced patrols at random times during the enforcement campaign. The overtime is paid with a grant administered by ODOT utilizing the federally funded dollars. Patrols will continue through September 4th.