The La Porte Police Department ran 40 hours of Operation Pull Over seat belt patrols between October 24 and October 31. The patrols were to remind motorists to buckle up and drive safely during the days leading up to Halloween and that driving conditions become more dangerous as a result of leaves on the roadway as winter approaches. During these patrols officers wrote 52 citations and 64 warnings. Among the citations were 39 citations for seat belt violations and ¬one citation for a child restraint violation.
The department would also like to remind La Porte citizens that traffic safety is cooperative venture that starts with the individual motorist obeying all traffic laws and making a commitment to drive safely. The department depends heavily on citizens reporting dangerous driving behavior by other motorists since there are more than 110 miles of streets in the city.
“We ask motorists to please call 911 to report dangerous or impaired driving or children who are not properly restrained in a safety seat,” said Captain Tom Heath. “If possible, a passenger in the car could make the call in order to ensure that the driver does not take his or her eyes off the road. Otherwise, a hands free device should be used.”
When citizens report dangerous driving, the 911 dispatcher will ask for the location, the vehicle’s direction of travel, a description of the vehicle, the vehicle’s speed, and what the driver of the vehicle is doing that is causing the problem. The dispatcher will also ask for the caller’s name and contact information. In some cases, it is important for the officer to contact the original reporter to obtain further information.
Remember, your responsibility as a citizen is to report dangerous situations in a manner that does not endanger you. You might save someone’s life by doing so.
- Never confront another motorist.
- Keep your distance from reckless drivers and never attempt to follow a speeding or dangerous driver.
- Make sure you pay attention to your own driving and do not become fixated on the dangerous driver.
- If you do not have a passenger that can call or you cannot make the call with a hands free device, pull off and stop in a safe location before calling.
Operation Pull Over is a federally funded traffic safety program administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. To learn more about the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and its programs go to http://www.in.gov/cji.