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2025 FDOT Occupant Protection Education and Enforcement Operation

For Immediate Release : Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Release Number: 24-249

Date

Wednesday November 27, 2024 11:34 AM

Location

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office was awarded a traffic safety subgrant in the amount of $150,000.00 by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for Occupant Protection Education and Enforcement Operation. 

The purpose of this program is to educate the public about occupant safety and reinforce safety belt use (to include child restraint and booster seat use) in Hillsborough County in an effort to decrease crashes that occur within Hillsborough County. 

FDOT has approved funding for reimbursement to HCSO for overtime (including salary and benefits) for deputies conducting occupant protection education and enforcement activities in the amount of $150,000.00.
 
According to the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), of the 25,420 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2022,  50% were not wearing safety belts; of the 1,748 passenger vehicle occupants killed in the state of Florida, 46% were unrestrained.
 
The contract was executed on November 27, 2024, and the program will run through September 30, 2025.