Sheriff's Dept. steps up patrols for holiday season

The Ripley County Sheriff's Department will participate in a statewide traffic safety enforcement blitz leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday season. Additional officers will be put on patrol to enforce impaired driving and seat belt laws.

"This is the time of year when many families and friends travel great distances to get together and celebrate," said Sheriff Bill Davison. "We want to make sure none of those celebrations turn into senseless tragedies."

The enforcement campaign will run now through November 28.

During the period in 2002 between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, 2,464 people died across the United States in alcohol-related crashes or in crashes where safety belts were not used, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Research has shown that high visibility enforcement and a strong media message led to a higher seat belt usage rate and a reduction in alcohol-related crash fatalities.

"We want to encourage Hoosiers to make smart and safe decisions during the holiday season and throughout the year," said Sheriff Davison.

This campaign is sponsored by the Governor's Council on Impaired & Dangerous Driving, a division of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. Federal funding is provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.