FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SHERIFF'S TELLING OUR PARENTS AND PROMOTING EDUCATED DRIVERS

ENROLL YOUR VEHICLE IN STOPPED click here

Please note: Parents in any Michigan County may sign up and we will forward your request to your county sheriff.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Terrence L. Jungel

March 29, 2011 (517) 485-3135

THE MICHIGAN SHERIFFS’ ASSOCIATION STOPPED PROGRAM NAMED BRIGHT IDEA IN GOVERNMENT BY ASH CENTER FOR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE AND INNOVATION

LANSING, MI – The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University recently recognized the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association STOPPED (Sheriffs Telling Our Parents and Promoting Educated Drivers) Teen Driving Program as a Bright Idea recipient.

“There is nothing more important to a parent than the safety of their child,” said the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association’s Executive Director Terrence L. Jungel. “For seven years the STOPPED Program has brought parents peace of mind while their teen drivers are out on the road. The Michigan Sheriffs’ Association is proud to have STOPPED nationally recognized as a Bright Idea by the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation.”

In 2005 the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association identified a solution for a long-term problem: teen drivers have significantly more crashes and fatalities, and often develop poor driving habits which last a lifetime during their first year of driving. These habits have a profound effect on all drivers and passengers since two-thirds of those killed in a crash caused by a teen driver are NOT the teen driver. Teens are often successful at hiding smaller infractions like speeding, which can lead to crashes, from their parents because Michigan law allows them to pay any ticket without their parents being aware of their infractions. This can lead to an escalation of poor driving habits.

Voluntary participation in the STOPPED program allows parents to have more control over their teens’ driving habits, even when they aren’t in the car with them. Registration in the program is simple and FREE. Parents register any vehicle their teen may be driving or piloting (in 2009 STOPPED expanded to include snowmobiles, ORVs and boats) online at www.misheriff.org. Once they receive their STOPPED registration sticker in the mail it is placed on the vehicle’s windshield. If that vehicle is pulled over while someone under 21 is operating it, for any reason, the parent will receive notification, whether or not a citation is issued. This allows parents to enforce their “rules of the road”, which are often much tougher than those imposed by Michigan’s motor vehicle code.

Funding for the program, which is available to parents free of charge, has graciously been provided by AAA Michigan since 2006. Working together the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association and AAA Michigan are striving to foster a partnership between parents and law enforcement to promote safe driving by teens.

“AAA is very pleased the Ash Center has chosen to recognize the STOPPED program as a Bright Idea,” said AAA Traffic Safety Manager Jack Peet. “As a long-time sponsor of STOPPED, AAA knows how valuable this program is toward our goal of keeping teen drivers safe on the road. STOPPED helps parents stay engaged in the learning process with their teens.”

Since 2005, when seven counties piloted the program, STOPPED has expanded state-wide in Michigan and many other states have copied this award-winning program. In 2007 STOPPED received a Governor’s Traffic Safety Award for its contributions to traffic safety.

The Michigan Sheriffs’ Association, created in 1877, is the oldest law enforcement organization in the state. For more information about the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association, or to support programs like STOPPED as a citizen or business member, please visit our Web site at www.misheriff.org.

The Roy and Lila Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation advances excellence and innovation in governance and public policy through research, education and public discussion. Three major programs support their mission: the Program on Democratic Governance; the Innovations in Government Program; and the Rajawali Foundation Institute for Asia. For more information please visit www.ash.harvard.edu.

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