The following policy for the use of safety belts for officers of the Martinsburg Police Department and passengers in Martinsburg Police Department vehicles be enacted as follows:
(a) Purpose. To reduce to a minimum the possibility of death of injury to Departmental personnel as the result of motor vehicle collisions.
(b) Background. There is available evidence indicating that the use of seat belts can have a significant effect in reducing the number of deaths and the severity of injuries resulting from traffic crashes, and can assist officers in maintaining proper control of their vehicles in pursuit and/or emergency high speed operation.
(c) Method. All Departmental personnel, as either drivers or passengers in a moving Departmental vehicle, shall wear seat belts if they are available for use in the seating position which they are occupying. Unless a replacement vehicle is unavailable, no person shall operate a Departmental vehicle in which any belt in the front seat is inoperative.
(d) Exception. There are circumstances in which use of seat belts and/or restraining devices may hamper efficient conduct of police functions. Supervisors may grant an exemption to this policy for specific situations in which they deem efficiency of operations outweighs the safety benefit.
(Ord. 2001-09. Passed 7-30-01.)