Sheriff's Department completes Special Traffic Enforcement Program

The Winneshiek County Sheriff's Department says the 2009-2010 Special Traffic Enforcement Program has resulted in a small increase in the percentage of motorists using their seatbelts.

The STEP began on November 23rd last year.  It occurred over several holidays throughout the past year, including the just-completed Labor Day holiday.  Sheriff's deputies say average seat belt usage was 94 percent at the beginning of the STEP and 98 percent at the end of the STEP.

The Sheriff's Department also reported the Labor Day STEP resulted in 72 additional traffic citations and warnings, the investigation of two traffic accidents and rendering assistance to four motorists.