Prairie Village Police Crack Down on Safe Teen Driving

The Prairie Village Police Department (PVPD) will be patrolling the streets around East checking that drivers are wearing seat belts, not texting and staying within the speed limits for the week of March 11 through 15. This has come after a statewide movement to crack down on seat belts and safe teen driving, as well as an effort to get teens in a safe mind-set prior to spring break.

“I think the reason is because it’s the week leading up to spring break and we want to make sure that teenagers are being safe going into that break,” Student Resource Officer (SRO) Joel Porter said. “Just an added reminder [for students] leading up to that week.”

According to a press release put out by the PVPD, 43 teenagers lost their lives in car accidents in Kansas in 2012. Out of those, 74 percent of them were not properly seat belted. For Porter, wearing seat belts comes down to a life or death matter in the case of a serious accident.

“I hope that, number one, we don’t have any accidents, but if there are that you are wearing your seat belt,” Porter said. “[I hope] that we are not going to be dealing with a death, but only minor injuries.”

The police will be patrolling around East specifically around the start and end of the school day as well as around lunchtime. The fines for texting are $60 plus court costs, and for those under 18, the fee for not wearing a seatbelt is $60 plus court costs. However, those under 18 are only fined $10 plus court costs for not wearing a seatbelt, even for those sitting in the backseat of a car.

“It’s basically a slap on the wrist, but it’s just a reminder,” Porter said. “I think a lot of people think ‘I’m in the backseat and I’m an adult so I’m OK,’ but you could actually still get that ticket. Not that it’s always written, but it is possible.”

There will be a minimum of four officers around the school, but the number will be different every day. For the police department, it’s about saving lives and keeping drivers safe.

“Even one teen death is unacceptable,” PVPD Captain Wes Lovett said in the press release. “Please slow down, put the phone away or turn it off, and always buckle up.”