Safety-belts Are For Everybody! Buckle Up Every Time

 

One of the STAR Teams main goals is the enforcement and education of seat belt and child restraint violations. In the past for education, we primarily went to schools, malls, and other groups and spoke to them about the importance of these laws. But, these were people who invited us there and were for the most part using occupant protection devices appropriately. The real people we needed to get to were on the street, and it was difficult to get to them by ourselves. Except for using the media, making police traffic stops was the only way we could get to them. And by stopping and fining them, it was apparent they were not learning from their mistakes. It was because of this, we devised Operation Safebet. It was a collaboration between the STAR Team, the County Recorder's (Traffic) court, and the Health Department. In lieu of paying a fine for the citation, the violator could attend an evening course on occupant protection. By this way, we were definitely able to educate those who apparently really needed it.

Operation Safebet began in the latter part of 1995; As 1996 began, the attendance was just 5 citizens. The classes are held on the first Tuesday of every month at the DeKalb Health Department on Winn Way in Decatur. The class is not only for information and education on child safety seats and installation, but what literally happens to children and adults holding children on their lap when their vehicle is involved in an accident or sudden stop.
Throughout 1996 and 1997, our classes have grown from 5 citizens to almost 100 citizens per class. Recently, the Avondale Police Department became involved in the program, thereby increasing the class size. Our overall objective is to have all jurisdictions in DeKalb County to be involved in this program.