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Michigan State Police to Join the Largest-Ever Buckle Up Campaign

18 May 1998

Michigan State Police to Join the Largest-Ever Nationally Coordinated Effort by Law Enforcement to Buckle Up Children

                      In All 50 States Officers Mobilize
                Against the Leading Cause of Death to Children

    The Michigan State Police will join more than 4,000 law enforcement
agencies across the country in an unparalleled effort to protect children --
Operation ABC '98: Mobilizing America to Buckle Up Children.  Tens of
thousands of officers from all 50 states will conduct high-visibility
enforcement of child passenger safety laws throughout Buckle Up America Week,
May 18-25.  Michigan State Police participation in Operation ABC '98 will be
officially announced on Monday, May 18th.  Following the event, reporters will
be invited to ride along with an officer to observe enforcement of child
passenger safety laws.
    Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death to children in the U.S.
With summer highway travel expected to set a record this year, this effort to
get children buckled up is more important than ever.

    WHAT:  * Roll Call Event to Kick Off Participation in Operation ABC '98 --
             A 50 State Enforcement Effort to Buckle Up Children. Numerous
             Michigan State Police agencies will participate in the roll call,
             including the Detroit Police Department, Wayne County Sheriff's
             Office, Romulus Police Department, Flat Rock Police Department,
             Taylor Police Department, Brownstown Township Police Department
             and Woodhaven Police Department.

    WHO:  * First Lieutenant Dennis Bolling, Michigan State Police Department
          * Charles A. Hurley, Executive Director of Public Affairs, National
            Safety Council
          * Representatives from the following organizations will be available
            for interviews: Child Passenger Safety Program; Children's
            Hospital of Michigan; Metro Detroit SAFE KIDS Coalition; Wayne
            County Mothers Against Drunk Drivers; AAA of Michigan

    WHERE:  *  Michigan State Police Metro South Post, First floor Conference
               Room 12111, North Telegraph Road, Taylor, MI

    WHEN:  * Monday, May 18, 1998, 8:00 a.m. EDT

    * B-roll, including footage of roll calls in Detroit, Washington, New
York, Los Angeles and Atlanta, will be available on May 18.  Feed time: 3-3:30
p.m. EDT (c-band) galaxy 4, transponder 7 out of Conus downlink freq. 3840 h.
(call for additional feed times on May 19 and 20.)

    Operation ABC '98 is sponsored by the Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign,
in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the
U.S. Department of Transportation's Buckle Up America Campaign.
    CONTACT:  Ann Brown, 202-338-8700; or John Sosa, 313-287-5033; both for
the Air Bag Safety Campaign.