A reminder for all Greene County residents that both the Greene County Sheriff’s office and the Jefferson Police Department are participating in this week’s Special Traffic Enforcement Program through the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau.

Sheriff Steve Haupert reminds everyone that extra law enforcement officers are out this week from July 1st through the 7th looking for drunk drivers and not using seatbelts.

He talks about his expectations going into the 4th of July weekend.

“It seems that the three-day weekend this year will probably be relatively safe.  As we’ve come to find out in law enforcement it usually the weekend before or the weekend after (a holiday).  Everyone’s really on their guard and cautious and not quite that way on the previous or preceding weekend (of a holiday).”

According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, there were only six traffic-related fatalities last 4th of July weekend, three of which had alcohol involved.

Police Officer Pat Gerhardt says they’ve done a lot to lessen the number of traffic deaths over the years, but there are still people out there on the road who are speeding, drunk driving and unbuckled.