Enforcement grant aims at safe Thanksgiving travel

The Otoe County Sheriff’s Office will be participating in a speeding awareness campaign Nov. 23 to Nov. 27.

Extra deputies will be scheduled for high-visibility patrols with emphasis on seatbelt laws.

A sheriff’s office press release says the Thanksgiving holiday starts with the busiest travel day of the year.

In 2020, 78 percent of the 170 fatalities in passenger vehicle accidents were not wearing seatbelts and the sheriff says Nebraska is far below the national rate of seatbelt usage.

 Driver sober or get pulled over

The Otoe County Sheriff’s Office concluded a drive sober or get pulled over campaign on Sept. 5.

There were 297 calls for service, 85 traffic warnings and 28 traffic citations.

There were also 17 arrests, including one for driving while intoxicated and an ignition interlock violation.

Grant officers worked an extra 85.5 hours of overtime.