picture of truck picture of speedometer Traffic Safety Digest Summer 2003
 
Project Characteristics
Targets Youth through Innovative, Collaborative Program
Program Areas
Alcohol & Other Drugs
Child Passenger Safety
Type of Jurisdiction
State and County
Targeted Population
1st time Offenders;
Youth involved in underage drinking or unsafe driving practices;
Individuals charged with MIP
Jurisdiction Size
33,000
Funding
None
Contact
Dennis Burton
CO State Patrol, Dist. 2-Tr. C
111 W. Parmenter
Lamar, CO 81052
(719) 336-7403

Digest Listing

     

COLORADO
Minor in Possession (MIP) Deferral Program

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

The Minor in Possession (MIP) Deferral program was created by the Colorado State Patrol, District 2 Troop C (which covers four counties), and the county judges to address the two problems of underage drinking and impoverished families in need of child safety seats.

Underage drinking is prevalent in these rural Colorado communities; parties are most frequent surrounding Spring Break, graduation, and holidays. These communities also have several impoverished families requiring child safety seats. The Colorado State Patrol Troop office is notified about these needy families by county nurses.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The goals of the project were to:

  • The goals and objectives of the MIP Deferral program are to:

  • Obtain seats for child passenger safety (CPS) outreach and activities;

  • Provide child safety seats to needy families; and

  • Provide punitive action alternatives for first time MIP offenders.

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES

The Prowers County State Troopers approached court judges in Baca County regarding a plan to obtain child safety seats and loan them to needy families. The troopers suggested that youth underage drinking violators be offered a MIP deferment requiring them to donate a child safety seat to the CPS program.

The county court judges agreed to offer the MIP deferment option on a case-by-case basis to first time offenders, depending on the individual’s charge, history, and the needs of the CPS program. This deferment option is only available when the Troop office has depleted its supply of child safety seats. A deferred charge may be dismissed following: completion of twenty hours of community service, six months without another violation, and proof of seat donation.

RESULTS

Due to the success of the CPS program in this rural community:

  • Judges may offer this deferment option up to four times a year to help support quarterly CPS check points.

  • Enough seats are donated to the CPS program to sustain its resource provision for needy families. For example, following a MIP crackdown of a youth party in Springfield, Colorado 40 seats were collected. Twelve seats were also collected in Lamar, Colorado.

  • The program has received wide support from the legal community and the public.
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