FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2001
CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755

DPS "THANK YOU TICKET" CAMPAIGN

COLUMBIA - The South Carolina Department of Public Safety presented a $1,000 check today to Danny Newman of Easley who was "caught" wearing his seat belt by the Pickens County Sheriff’s Department as part of the agency’s ‘Thank You Ticket" campaign, which ran from July 31 to August 31.

DPS runs the campaign through its Office of Highway Safety to draw attention to the importance of buckling up. This year, 76 South Carolina law enforcement agencies statewide participated in the campaign, issuing more than 13,000 thank you "tickets."

The tickets were issued at safety checks or when someone was pulled over for another violation and the officer observed the motorist buckled up. In order to be eligible for the prize, motorists had to fill out the ticket and send it back to DPS for the drawing.

"This is a positive way for us to spread the word about the importance of buckling up," said DPS Highway Safety Office Director Max Young. "This is one of many ways we work every day to keep people’s minds geared toward wearing their seatbelts and getting their passengers to buckle up as well."

Newman was presented the check at the State Fair live on WIS-TV’s 6 p.m. newscast Tuesday. The South Carolina Automobile Dealers Association provided the $1,000 prize money.

Irmo, Lexington and Horry County police departments received prizes for issuing the most tickets during the campaign.

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