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Project
Characteristics |
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Innovative
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Program
Areas |
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Occupant
Protection
Law
Enforcement
Alcohol and Other Drugs |
Type of Jurisdiction |
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Law Enforcement Agencies |
Targeted
Population |
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Local Law
Enforcement Executives |
Jurisdiction
Size |
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535 Agencies
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Funding |
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Section 402:
$30,000
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Contact |
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Joe McDonald,
Director
OK Hwy Safety
Office
3223 N. Lincoln Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 523-1570
Jmcdonal@dps.state.ok.us
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Digest
Listing
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OKLAHOMA
Law Enforcement
Incentive Program
(PDF Version)
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
With
increased demands on law enforcement officers and agencies, it is difficult
for officers to find the time and motivation needed to work a traffic safety
enforcement mobilization. It can be even harder to find the time to complete
the necessary reporting paperwork after the mobilization is completed.
Oklahoma law was unclear
on the issue of providing incentives. To preclude problems, the Oklahoma
Highway Safety Office (OHSO) sought legislation that specifically
permits the OHSO to implement an incentive program.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The Law Enforcement Incentive Program is an ongoing effort that began in
spring of 2004. Its goal is to encourage participation
in traffic safety enforcement mobilizations and 100 percent reporting by
participating agencies.
The
project’s intermediate objectives include:
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Educating agencies on
the importance of participation in traffic safety enforcement
mobilizations and reporting results;
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Notifying all law
enforcement agencies via mailed pamphlet, personal contact; community
organizations, and training events; and
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Unveiling an incentive
project at the May Mobilization kick-off breakfast.
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The Law Enforcement Incentive Program achieved its
goals by implementing the following strategies and activities:
-
Drafted
language that specifically permitted the OHSO to provide incentives.
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Received endorsement
of proposed incentive legislation by the Department of Public Safety. The
legislation passed without any issues. The law reads:
Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office of the Department of
Public Safety may provide incentives, as permitted by federal regulations,
to the public and any law enforcement agencies of the state for the purpose
of promoting increased participation in traffic safety-related projects. The
incentive shall be purchased only with federal funds, if available.
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Pre-qualified
all participating agencies that signed up with OHSO prior to the
mobilization and completed the reporting form by the assigned deadline.
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Awarded incentives of
$3,000 each to five agencies, as selected from a pool of all qualified
participants.
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Created a
multi-purpose brochure to make reporting easier and allow the department
to 1) learn about the mobilization, 2) fax in the participation form, and
3) fax in the reporting form all on the same document.
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Enabled selected
agencies to use the incentives to purchase OHSO approved traffic
safety-related items such as radar devices, in-car video cameras, trips to
highway safety conferences, or training.
RESULTS
The Law Enforcement Incentive Program achieved the
following results in the 2004 fiscal year:
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After the first Click
It or Ticket mobilization using the incentives, agency reporting increased
by an overwhelming 71 percent. Using the same formula in the August for
You Drink & Drive, You Lose, reporting increased by 68 percent.
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The incentive program
has been well received by Oklahoma law enforcement agencies who believe
the program is a positive way to motivate participation and receive timely
results.
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