Both local law enforcement agencies have been recognized by the Tennessee Governor’s Highway Safety Office for efforts to enforce the use of seatbelts and raise awareness about the importance of their use.
Plaques were presented this month to Warren County Sheriff’s Department and McMinnville Police Department.
“Being recognized by the state for our efforts is great,” said McMinnville Police Department Lt. Mark Mara. “It shows that not only the citizens are recognizing our efforts in making the roads safer, but the state does as well.”
MPD receives an annual grant from the Tennessee Governor’s Highway Safety Office annually to hold saturation patrols. The patrols provide an extra set of officers on the street to actively pursue impaired drivers.
The departments have begun working together on the saturated patrols, according to Mara.
“We have formed a partnership with the Warren County Sheriff’s Department,” said Mara. “Every saturation patrol we do we include the Sheriff’s Department and vice versa. That gets more officers on the road and we are trying to make it safer for the community.”
During saturation patrols, officers conduct traffic stops when hazardous driving is observed or when occupants in the vehicle are not wearing seatbelts in an effort to find impaired drivers.
Mara wants to remind drivers they are responsible for themselves, as well as any passengers in the vehicle.
“The driver is responsible for the safety of everyone in car,” he said. “If you have a passenger who is not wearing a seatbelt and an accident happens that results in that person’s death, we will look at the driver as to why that person was not wearing a seatbelt.”
Saturation patrols are planned during Christmas and New Year’s weekends.