ARCHIVES

ARCHIVES

But officer! I was just … Oh, thanks

By Raiza Canelon/Staff Writer

Kathleen Branch of Buellton looked worried as Deputy Win Smith approached her vehicle one recent morning at Oak Valley Elementary School.

But Smith just smiled politely and handed her a $5 McDonald’s gift card for having a child’s safety seat in her car and for wearing her seat belt.

A look of relief swept across her face.

“I haven’t heard about this program before, but it is nice to see the Sheriff’s Department are encouraging us. I wish they would have more safety checks so everyone can see how they should properly install the seats. I see kids that aren’t in safety seats, and that concerns me,” Branch said.

Smith is a Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputy who works under contract as part of Buellton’s police force to handle traffic-related issues such as speed, seat belt enforcement and driving under the influence. He thinks that positive reinforcement works just as well as giving tickets.

“By giving out the gift cards, it shows that we notice good behavior, and allows me to talk with parents and find out their concerns. The number one cause of death among children is car accidents. We want to make sure people are being safe,” Smith said.

Smith often patrols near elementary schools, looking for drivers who are wearing their seat belts, using hands-free devices for their cell phones, and using child car seats. He then approaches them on foot because he can’t stop someone while in a patrol car or on his motorcycle unless they’ve done something wrong.

“Things that negate receiving a gift card is having illegally tinted windows, children not in car seats, or drivers not wearing their seat belts,” Smith said.

He can give out tickets for those offenses as well.

The law states that children who are 6 years old or younger or weigh less than 60 pounds should be in a car seat. Smith said there are exceptions, such as if an older child is still a little below the weight requirement.

“I hope that putting children in car seats is a habit for everyone, but it’s really nice the deputies are noticing people that take care of their kids,” said Gina Tesdahl of Buellton.

She was dropping off her son Aiden at school when Smith approached her and handed her a gift card.

As Smith was walking back to his patrol car, word of the gift cards had spread around the parking lot, and other parents were yelling to him that he should look at their car seats, too.

rcanelon@syvnews.com