Seat belt enforcement leads to dozens of tickets

WASHINGTON — A four-hour “seat belt traffic enforcement program” coordinated between the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol and Washington Police Department led to several tickets and a handful of warnings on May 13.

In a press release, the Washington Police Department said the operation from 2-6 p.m. involved collaboration among officers, according to Washington Police Chief Jim Lester, who said some of the officers involved acted as “spotters” around the city. The day ended with 17 seat belt citations issued, along with five other traffic citations, 19 warnings and one arrest for a person driving while barred.

“Our goal was simple: to encourage safe driving habits. This kind of enforcement isn’t just about writing tickets — it’s about preventing a tragedy,” said Washington Police Lt. Ben Altenhofen in a statement. Altenhofen oversaw the Tuesday afternoon operation. “We want to thank the community for their cooperation and remind everyone that seat belt safety isn’t just a campaign — it’s a year-round commitment and a strong reminder that seat belt safety isn’t optional.”

A 2024 seat belt use survey conducted by Iowa State University estimated about 94% of Iowans wear seat belts when driving or riding in the front seat of any passenger vehicle. The remaining 6% led to 108 deaths last year across the state, with unbuckled drivers or passengers comprising 44% of Iowa’s traffic fatalities in 2024 according to the Washington Police Department’s press release.

The mid-May program was part of a broader “high-visibility enforcement effort” at the The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau. Dubbing the effort a “Click It, Don’t Risk It” campaign in a press release, the state said it planned to partner with several local law enforcement agencies this month.

“No matter the type of vehicle you’re traveling in, where you’re seated, or what type of road you’re driving on, the best way to protect yourself in a crash is to buckle up,” said Brett Tjepkes, GTSB bureau chief, in a statement. “Unfortunately, many families are suffering because their loved ones did not follow this simple step. If this enforcement effort alerts people to the dangers of unrestrained driving, we’ll consider the mission a success.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com