From March 14-17th, the Jefferson Police Department participated in the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau’s Special Traffic Safety Program.

Captain Mark Clouse says the police department had five officers working several different locations within Jefferson during the sTEP program.

Captain Clouse reports that there were 75 traffic warnings and 4 citations issued.  There were 21 warnings issued for vehicle equipment violations such as a headlight was out and 18 warnings for seatbelt violations.  There was only one ticket for excessive speeding.

Some police departments have officers work extra when sTEP is in effect, but Police Chief Dave Morlan explains that his department handles it differently.

“We incorporate the program into the officer’s normal workday.  We don’t have them come in and work extra or anything like that.  They answer their calls and when they have time, they go out and try to do the increased traffic enforcement.”

Morlan notes that the overall goal of the program is to promote traffic safety and increase seat belt awareness.

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