The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office, along with other law enforcement agencies, will be participating in extra patrol and enforcement with an emphasis on seatbelts/child restraints and minors in open truck beds between May 15 and
May 28.
This safety blitz is funded by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and run in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s annual “Click It or Ticket” campaign.
Motor vehicle crashes are also the leading cause nationwide of death for children ages one through twelve years old. Oregon law requires all occupants to use safety restraints and children weighing less than forty pounds to use a child seat or harness.
Traffic studies continue to show unbelted or improperly restrained occupants are five times more likely to be ejected from a vehicle than occupants who are belted properly. Odds of surviving being ejected from a vehicle are estimated to be one in four.
ODOT provides the following safety reminders:
ADULT BELT LAW: Oregon law requires that all motor vehicle operators and passengers be properly secured with a
safety belt or safety harness. Limited exemptions are allowed under ORS 811.215. Vehicle owners are required to
maintain belt systems in working order.
CHILD RESTRAINT LAW: Child passengers must be restrained in approved child safety seats until they weigh 40
pounds or reach the upper weight limit for the car seat in use. Infants must ride rear‐facing until they reach both
one year of age and 20 pounds.
BOOSTER SEAT LAW: Children more than 40 pounds or who have reached the upper weight limit for their forward‐
facing car seat must use boosters until they are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall or age eight and the adult belt fits
correctly.
MINORS IN OPEN TRUCK BEDS LAW: Minors under the age of 18 are prohibited from riding upon the hood, fender,
running board or other part of any motor vehicle that is upon a highway; except by limited exemptions per ORS 811.205.
