A
COMPENDIUM OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OLDER DRIVER PROGRAMS
Index
Introduction
Alabama
Arizona
California
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Iowa
Kentucky
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
Ohio
Ontario, Canada
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Texas
Vermont
Virginia
Wisconsin
Other Resources
NEW YORK
The New York State Police helped develop a handbook, When You Are Concerned, with the New York State Office for the Aging. The project was funded by a grant from the New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee and Allstate Insurance. The New York State Police provided law enforcement perspectives concerning older driver issues and defined what roles the law enforcement community can play in assisting older drivers and their families. The handbook is a guide for families, friends, and caregivers worried about the safety of an aging driver and outlined the following:
- An overview of families concerned about the safety of an aging driver in the family.
- How to monitor an aging driver when you don't live nearby.
- Where to find assistance.
- Discussion and intervention techniques.
- How to cope with an aging family driver.
- Transportation alternatives.
- How to keep the older family member driving safely.
- Mobility for life.
The New York State Police deploys Community Resource Officers in the local communities to speak to senior citizen groups about occupant safety and general traffic safety. The state troopers provide information on older driving issues through pamphlets provided by the New York State Office for the Aging. The Community Resource Officers receive training in presentation skills and specific sensitivity and cultural diversity training.
New York State Governor George E. Pataki has charged 37 state agencies, including the State Police, with responsibility for examining the future impact of the aging of the Baby Boom generation on state services. This project, "Project 2015," has identified three important areas through a Project 2015 focus group:
- Highway Safety.
- Criminal Investigation/Enforcement.
- Employee development. Due to future changing demographics, the New York State Police will work independently and collaboratively to explore the impact of aging as it relates to traffic safety policy and management of their programs.
Contact:
Sergeant Jon Lupo
New York State Police
1220 Washington Avenue,
Building 22
Albany, NY 12226
Web site: www.troopers.state.ny.us/
Phone: (518) 457-3258
Fax: (518) 457-9620
E-mail: jlupo@troopers.state.ny.us
The West Seneca, New York Police Department and the Cheektowaga, New York Police Department participates in the Erie County Older Driver Family Assistance Program as members of the Help Network. The Help Network is comprised of experts in the fields of aging, health, law enforcement, and driving. The Help Network provides information about available services to assist caregivers; addresses challenging family situations involving at-risk older drivers; works to identify and remove barriers to accessing services; and acts as an advocate for public policy changes. The program is coordinated through the Erie County Department of Senior Services.
The police agencies provide assistance to the network by speaking with family members who have questions concerning an older driver. When police officers encounter older drivers who need special services such as medical evaluations, driver skills assessments or special transportation, they can refer them to the Help Network where the driver will be referred to the appropriate service.
The police departments have the authority to refer drivers to the DMV for driver's license re-examination when an officer identifies a driver that no longer has the skills or faculties to safely operate a motor vehicle.
Contacts:
Lieutenant Philip Steffan
West Seneca Police Department
1250 Union Road
West Seneca, NY 14224
Web site: www.wspolice.com/
Phone: (716) 674-2280
Fax: (716) 674-1063
E-mail: steffan@wspolice.com
Lieutenant Mark Nacke
Cheektowaga Police Department
3223 Union Road
Cheektowaga, NY 14227
Web site: www.cpdny.org/
Phone: (716) 686-3580