By By ROBERT BLANKENSHIP
Managing Editor
The Escambia County Sheriff's Office's recent efforts during the "Click It or Ticket" campaign did not go unnoticed by the community, nor by the Southwest Alabama Regional Medical Center who presented an award grant to the office during a county commission meeting Monday.
Jack Chancery, a representative of the SWARMC, said the Escambia County Sheriff's Office placed second in a state-wide contest for their efforts during Click-It or Ticket campaign. Chancery presented Sheriff Tim Hawsey with the second place prize n a grant award of $3,500. The money was provided by the SWARMC and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.
According to Chancery, the department placed first among state offices in its seatbelt and speeding enforcement during the campaign and second in the D.U.I. stops.
The sheriff's office received a grant from the state to pay officers for overtime. The overtime hours were used to work checkpoints throughout the county as deputies checked for seatbelt usage and other offenses.
Going into the campaign, Escambia County was placed last among Alabama counties with a 51 percent seatbelt compliance. Through the campaign, the percentage has increased to about 71 percent according to the sheriff's office.
The Click-It enforcement began in the county in May and went through September.
Hawsey said the prize money received will pay for the placement of chargable flashlights in county patrol cars.
The sheriff said that his office's experience with the Click-It or Ticket campaign was all positive and that residents can expect the office to continue its participation in the event.
County Commission Chairman Larry White agreed with the sheriff and said the commission would likely support any Click-It effort in the future.
Hawsey said he appreciated the hard work of his deputies and the patience of all the citizens who were stopped throughout the campaign.