"Vehicle Occupant Protection" Enforcement Project

September 4, 2014

Marshalltown, Iowa - On Wednesday evening, September 3rd, the Marshall County Sheriff's Office and Marshalltown Police Department conducted a "Vehicle Occupant Protection" enforcement project in Marshalltown as part of the Labor Day Special Traffic Enforcement Program (sTEP) wave. 

This special enforcement period runs from August 25th through September 7th. This wave focuses extra traffic enforcement to help reduce injuries and deaths on Iowa's roadways. August and September are the historically the deadliest two months of the year for traffic fatalities in Iowa. So far this year, 200 people have been killed on Iowa roadways. Of those, nearly half were not wearing seat belts.

This project focused on driver and passenger seatbelt use and also child restraint use. It has been proven that the single best way to improve your chances of surviving a crash is by wearing your seat belt and having children properly restrained in a child safety seat or seat belt. Simply taking 3 seconds to put on a seatbelt more than doubles the likelihood of surviving a crash. During this three hour project Deputies and Officers issued 20 citations and 63 warnings. There were 8 citations for seat belts and 19 warnings. There was 1 citation for Child Restraints and 13 warnings. There were also citations issued as follows: 2-Driving without License, 1-Driving under Suspension, 3-Operation without Registration, 1-Texting while Driving, 4-Proof of Insurance. One driver was arrested for a Felony warrant from Texas. Warnings were issued as follows: 1-Fail to Obey Stop Sign, 5-Operation without Registration, 2-Dark Windows, 10-Defective Equipment, 9-Proof of Insurance, and 4-other traffic violations.

About Marshall County Sheriff's Office
The Marshall County, Iowa Sheriff's Office is headed up by Sheriff Ted G. Kamatchus. Sheriff Kamatchus is committed to keeping communities and neighborhoods safe in Marshall County.

For additional information or a sample copy, contact:
Traffic Safety Officer Ben Veren 64-15
Marshall County Sheriff's Office
641-754-6380
Fax 641-754-6325
Sheriff@co.marshall.ia.us
www.marshallcountysheriff.com

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