Engaging nontech Law Enforcement Officers Obstacles to Enforcement Primary Enforcement 34 states and DC Secondary Enforcement 15 states NH has no seatbelt law for adults Secondary e nforcement laws make enforcement secondary to officers ID: 764147
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Engaging non-tech Law Enforcement Officers
Obstacles to Enforcement Primary Enforcement: 34 states and D.C. Secondary Enforcement: 15 states * NH has no seatbelt law for adults.
Secondary e nforcement laws make enforcement secondary to officers. Seatbelt enforcement is only pushed to the forefront during special enforcement campaigns
Secondary Enforcement – does it affect enforcement of child restraint laws? Are officers looking for 15-17 year olds that have no seatbelt? (In Vermont, anyone under 18 is covered by child restraint law, which is PRIMARY enforcement)
Obstacles to Enforcement Product evolution Complicated and changing technology
Obstacles to Enforcement
Obstacles to Enforcement Complicated and varied products Lack of standardization CRS Manual Vehicle Manual LATCH Manual
Obstacles to Enforcement Child restraint laws: Ages and weights – 20 lbs and 1 year; age 8; age 17 Exceptions – School buses; vehicles designed to carry passengers for hireExceptions to exceptions – except vehicle operated by a child care facility
Training? In Vermont, full time certified officers receive a few minutes of training during motor vehicle law class.
Areas of enforcement for “lay” officers: Booster Seats: Back vs Backless - common misconception of booster as backless only. Proper belt position – shoulder belt NEVER behind back. Stress importance of role as belt positioning device. Posture – look for kids to sit up straight, reinforce the importance of this. Parents – emphasize the importance of behavior and setting a good example.
Areas of enforcement for “lay” officers: Harnesses: Loose harnesses – hanging off shoulder Excessive layers of clothing Frayed/Twisted harness straps
Areas of enforcement for “lay” officers: Load Securement: Seat secured in vehicle? 1 inch test – checked at belt path. Seat belt locked?
Areas of enforcement for “lay” officers: The Forgotten Years: Age 8 – 17 May still need booster during early years. NO CRS…. But PRIMARY ENFORCEMENT Kids moving around in car Reaching in front or behind
Areas of enforcement for “lay” officers: Crash Investigation: Ensure that proper data is collected:
Areas of enforcement for “lay” officers: Are we getting good crash data when no “CPS” investigation is completed?
Areas of enforcement for “lay” officers: Crash Investigation: When no tech is available, collect as much data regarding child and seat to allow for follow up… Which will lead to better crash data . Take photographs of labels.
So what are we doing?: Vermont : US Dept of Health and Human Services CoIIN. Develop a course of instruction for patrol officers. 2-4 hours of instruction.
August 2012, VT Route 131, Weathersfield , VT; 7:52 p.m. 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee, SB on US Rt 5.Motorist calls to report erratic operation as the vehicle turns onto Rt 131 westbound. Trooper responds to intercept; while en route, a crash i s reported. Jeep crossed the center lane and sideswiped a Ford F-150 Jeep continues and strikes a Ford Fusion head on in the eastbound lane. Operator of Jeep is killed. 4 year old female in rear seat of Ford Fusion is restrained in a booster seat.
Mark from seatbelt extending across center of chest to child’s left shoulder
Mark from lap belt extending across hips and waist
Mark from shoulder belt on shoulder, not on neck. “Only” injury - f ractured clavicle.
How do officers achieve victories? Look for obvious/gross misuse Know when to refer a family to a technician Collect information about children and child restraints to allow for follow up when there is no CPS tech as the scene of injury and fatal crashes.
Title 23 : Motor Vehicles § 1258. Child restraint systems; persons under age 18 (a) No person shall operate a motor vehicle, other than a type I school bus, in this State upon a public highway unless every occupant under age 18 is properly restrained in a federally approved child passenger restraining system as defined in 49 C.F.R. § 571.213, as may be amended, or a federally approved safety belt, as follows: (1) all children under the age of one, and all children weighing less than 20 pounds, regardless of age, shall be restrained in a rear-facing position, properly secured in a federally approved child passenger restraining system, which shall not be installed in front of an active air bag; (2) a child weighing more than 20 pounds, and who is one year of age or older and under the age of eight years, shall be restrained in a child passenger restraining system; and (3) a child eight through 17 years of age shall be restrained in a safety belt system or a child passenger restraining system.
Title 23 : Motor Vehicles § 1258. Child restraint systems; persons under age 18 (b) A person shall not be adjudicated in violation of this section if: (1) the motor vehicle is regularly used to transport passengers for hire except a motor vehicle owned or operated by a child care facility; (2) the motor vehicle was manufactured without safety belts; or (3) the person has been ordered by an enforcement officer, a firefighter, or an authorized civil authority to evacuate persons from a stricken area. (c) The penalty for violation of this section shall be as follows: (1) $25.00 for a first violation; (2) $50.00 for a second violation; (3) $100.00 for third and subsequent violations.