Extra patrols will be on Lyon County’s roads for the remainder of the month, as sheriff’s officers work to make drivers and passengers safer, though use of safety restraints.
The officers are joining in the Kansas Department of Transportation’s “Click It or Ticket” program, which emphasizes the need to use the restraints. Lyon County’s effort began Monday and will run through May 31st.
Officers also will be on the lookout for drivers who may be driving under the influence of intoxicants — alcohol or drugs.
“(Deputies) are just going to be out doing extra patrols, watching for traffic violations,” said Deputy Richard Johnson. “There’s going to be more of us out ... at different times.”
Johnson said enforcement will be on the roads and in towns in Lyon County as well.
“Obviously, we’ll be checking for DUIs and what-not,” he said. “DUI usually goes hand-in-hand with the holidays. Other than that, we’ll be mainly focusing on the seat-belt violations.”
Kansas law divides its seat belt and safety restraint requirements into categories according to age.
Johnson said that children driving age and below must wear safety restraints. Those include car safety seats for infants, booster seats, and traditional belts and restraints, depending upon the age and size of the child.
“The vehicle can automatically be pulled over and a driver can be cited,” Johnson said.
Failure to have children properly buckled and belted in are categorized as primary violations, he said.
Adults not properly restrained are termed secondary violations.
“18 and above (there) has to be another violation in order for the vehicle to be stopped, and then to be cited,” he explained. “They have to be cited for whatever reason they were pulled over to begin with. ... Children are primary law. The adults, or aged 18 and above, is a secondary law.”