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Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Since We Asked Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend February 6, 2006 OSP out to educate about safety belts By CHRIS CONRAD Mail Tribune So you just left your driveway, or are pulling out of Winco’s parking lot, and you’ve forgotten to buckle up. No big deal, right? Minor slip. Surely the Oregon State Police trooper that’s just pulled you over will let you skate by. Think again. " ‘I just left my house’ and ‘I just left the supermarket’ are the most common excuses I hear," said senior trooper Bill Matson. OSP will join traffic enforcement officers in Washington and British Columbia for the first of three special enforcement blitzes this year known as the "Three Flags Campaign". This leg will focus on safety belt and child safety seat issues. OSP troopers will be out in force today through Feb. 19, passing out fliers in English and Spanish and, of course, writing citations where applicable. Advertisement "It’s more than just enforcement, it’s also education," Matson said. Oregon is in the top five nationally for safety belt usage, Matson said, with about a 96 percent compliance. But the blitz is as much for those who buckle up as those who don’t. Troopers want to make sure those who comply are doing it correctly, he said. Matson said a safety belt should be worn across the hip and thigh area, not the waist. The shoulder strap should lay across the shoulder and clavicle (collar bone) area, not the neck. The citation for improper usage is $97. Troopers also will be checking that children are properly restrained in a vehicle. According to OSP statistics, driving complaints phoned into the two OSP dispatch centers jumped over the last five years. The number of complaints rose from more than 22,700 in 2000 to nearly 39,000 in 2004. In 2005, OSP troopers cited 464 people for driving 100 mph or faster. Reach reporter Chris Conrad at 776-4471, or e-mail OSP out to educate about safety belts ">[email protected] . Laws regarding child passengers: All children under age 12 must be secured in a vehicle’s back seat. A child under age 4 and weighing 40 pounds or less must be properly secured in a full child-safety seat. A child who is at least 4 and under 6 years old or weighs between 40 and 60 pounds must be secured in a child booster seat. A child at least 6 years old and weighing at least 60 pounds can use just the regular safety belt systems in cars. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems California Casinos Men's Clothing Southern Oregon Loans --> GMAT Prep Fundraisers Send Flowers Entertainment Guide --> Casinos Canada Trunks, Footlocker Online Casino Reviews Advertisement s