St. Helens Police Launch February Safety Belt Blitz

Child in car in rear facing car seat

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 29, 2019

St. Helens, Ore. – The St. Helens Police Department will be participating in additional safety belt enforcement in February thanks to funding from the Oregon Department of Transportation Safety Division. There will be saturated patrols from Monday, February 4 through Sunday, February 17. The focus during this blitz period will be on safety belt and child restraint use.

The St. Helens Police Department wants to remind people that booster seats and car seats with a harness are required for children until they reach age eight or 4’9” in height and the adult belt fits them correctly. Additionally, Oregon law requires children to be secured in a rear-facing safety seat until their second birthday. This greatly improves their chance of surviving a crash.

“Research has shown that children in the second year of life are five times less likely to die or be seriously injured in a crash if they ride rear-facing. It is very important to secure your children correctly,” said Sergeant Jose Castilleja.

“Officers will be on the lookout for non-compliance with the law. There is zero tolerance for violations encountered during the blitz periods,” said Sgt. Castilleja. “Wear your seatbelt and place your children in proper safety seats. We will be watching.”

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For further information regarding the St. Helens Police Department’s February safety belt blitz, please contact Sgt. Jose Castilleja at josec@ci.st-helens.or.us or 503-397-3333.