Sheriff's Office Starts S.T.O.P.P.E.D. Program For Parents & Young Drivers

Posted Wednesday, December 22, 2004

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Taking the lead from a program started by the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office in New York State, the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office is pleased to introduce S.T.O.P.P.E.D., a program designed to reduce the number of automobile wrecks involving young motorists.

"Forsyth County Sheriff's Office is the second Sheriff's Office in Georgia to adopt the S.T.O.P.P.E.D. program," Sheriff Paxton said. "The first to adopt was Oconee County, who started theirs earlier this year," he added.

Nationwide, over 3,000 young drivers between the ages of 16 and 21 die each year as the result of car crashes, Sheriff Ted Paxton said. "Hopefully, S.T.O.P.P.E.D., when fully implemented in Forsyth County, will put a dent in the number of crashes involving young people," the Sheriff added.

Here is how S.T.O.P.P.E.D. works:

First, parents voluntarily register with the Sheriff's Office any motor vehicle in the family that will be operated by a driver under the age of 21.

Second, an identification decal is issued by the Sheriff's Office to the parents. The decal is designed to be affixed to the driver's side of the vehicle's windshield.

Third, if for any reason the registered vehicle is stopped by a Forsyth County Deputy while it is being operated by a driver under the age of 21, the Deputy will complete a parental notification postcard which will provide the following information:

1. Time and location of the traffic stop.

2. The driver's name and number of passengers.

3. Reason for the traffic stop.

4. Whether or not any traffic citations were issued. There is also a space for the Deputy to make comments on the postcard.

The postcard notification will be mailed directly to the parents to make them aware of any potential problems and to help them enforce any parental rules. Of course, this will also give parents the opportunity to praise their children when they are when they are in the right place at the right time.

There is no cost for parents to participate in S.T.O.P.P.E.D., which is being sponsored by Andean Motor Company, Billy Howell Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Troncalli Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge. "I especially want to thank these three businesses for offering the financial backing for this program," Sheriff Paxton said.

Registration is easy. You may request a registration form in several ways.

First, you may download one by clicking on the link below.

Second, you may call the Sheriff's Office at (770) 781-2222 and request a S.T.O.P.P.E.D. registration form.

Third, you may stop by and location of the Sheriff's Office and pick up a registration form.

The completed form should then be returned to the Sheriff's Office to the address shown on the registration form.

Anyone desiring more information on S.T.O.P.P.E.D. may call the Sheriff's Office at (770) 781-2222.

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