NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
April 3, 2008
Contact: Michele Nicholson
Public Information Officer
(850) 651-7420
BUCKLE UP CAMPAIGN FOR TEENS BEGINS
With the help of a grant by the Florida
Department of Transportation, Okaloosa County Sheriff Charlie Morris is
spearheading a campaign to promote seat belt usage by teenagers.
The D-O-T
says Okaloosa County ranks as high as second in the state per capita when it
comes to teenage car accidents involving injury or death.
Since August 2007, the
Sheriff’s Office has issued 29 seatbelt violation citations to drivers between
the ages of fifteen and eighteen – along with 36 careless driving tickets, four
DUI’s, and six failures to stop.
Starting April 8th,
the Sheriff’s Office is bringing motivational speakers to area schools to
encourage seatbelt usage. The agency is also inviting each Okaloosa high school
to produce a 30 second Public Service Announcement video touting the benefits of
buckling up.
Eight students
are allowed per team and the campaign winners will each get free I-POD Nanos.
The winning school will also get up to five laptop computers and a digital video
recorder. The PSA entry deadline is May 12th. The winning video will
be announced May 23rd.
For more
information on the contest, contact Crime Prevention Specialist Ashley Bailey at
651-7153.
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