Teen Driver Vehicle Inspection

Lewiston Police Department Ofc. Rob Massey

Getting Started

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Pick A Date

  We chose to have the event during the National Teen Driver Safety Week. Don’t pick a Friday because none of the kids will stick around.  We had an added bonus that our event was during “Homecoming Week”

Getting Started

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Pick A Location

Try to find a location at the high school or very close. If it’s at the school then you can get the kids before they leave. If they leave, they won’t come back Find a place where you can have lanes and room for a couple of cars to be inspected at the same time. We chose one of the student parking lots

Advertising the Event

 Send a note to the SRO and place it in the daily bulletin  Advertise at surrounding schools  Contact newspaper and television stations  Meet with radio stations and ask if they would do a PSA for the event.  Distribute flyers around the school

Advertising Continued

 Word of mouth….

– This is as simple as officers stopping by the parking lot at lunch and talking to the kids about the event. – Have the SRO spread the word

Who to Talk To

    We contacted the local car dealerships (Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Toyota, Honda, etc…) Explain what you are doing and ask if they can spare a mechanic for a couple of hours.

We also had reps from Les Schwab and Napa Auto Parts agree to help

Auto Shop teacher and get students involved to shadow the professional mechanics

Free Stuff to Give Out

 I had the following stuff donated just by me asking: – 1. Several cases of Pepsi/Mt. Dew from Pepsi distributor – – 2. About 100 coupons for free tacos from Taco Johns 3. Huge stack of coupons for free food to Arby’s and Taco Time

Stuff Part #2

 Jiffy Lube told me to print off coupons from their web site for oil changes.  Napa Auto and Ford dealership brought some merchandise to hand out  AAA sent a huge box of hand-outs.

– I asked for a speedometer calibration trailer but that didn’t happen.

Equipment Needed

 Traffic cones  Tables/chairs  Ice Chests for donated drinks  Easy-up canopy  Vehicle inspection sheets (Get from Jiffy Lube)  Trash Cans

Day of Event

 Have kids stop their cars in designated area  Mechanics will do the inspection – Encourage the kids to follow along so they learn how to check the oil, tire pressure, brake fluid, etc.

– Officers should stay away and mingle with the other kids.

Day of Event #2

 Officers should be available to answer any questions from kids.  Ask the kids about their registration and insurance…most don’t know what they are or where to find them 

Perfect time to break down barriers between kids and officers

After the Event

 Write thank you letters to all mechanics, businesses who donated stuff, and high school  Include how many cars were inspected and roughly how many kids were contacted

Questions?

Ofc. Rob Massey Lewiston Police Department (208) 746-0171