MN Law Enforcement Agencies Looking For Kids Wearing Bike Helmets
I Got Caught Helmet Safety Campaign is in Full Swing
While on patrol this summer, Minnesota law enforcement agencies will be looking for kids wearing helmets. If caught, a child may find themselves making a trip to a local DQ® restaurant.
As part of AAA's "I Got Caught" campaign, as many as 100,000 Minnesota youth will be written a 'citation' for a free small DQ cone for wearing a helmet while biking, scootering, skateboarding or in-line skating. (Note: A list of participating law enforcement agencies is included below).
"We want to encourage youth to wear a helmet in hopes they develop a lifelong appreciation for safety," said Meredith Mitts, Minnesota spokesperson for AAA-The Auto Club Group. "Program sponsors enjoy providing positive reinforcement to youth who are making smart decisions, and hope parents will take the next step by modeling the desired habit of wearing helmets themselves."
According to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, helmets reduced overall head injuries by about 60 percent and reduced fatalities by about 73 percent. The study also found that law enforcement and other safety officials can reinforce the need to wear a helmet through positive interactions such as free or discounted helmet distribution programs and incentives for helmet use.
Supporting sponsors of the annual campaign include the Minnesota Sheriffs Association, the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, MN Toward Zero Deaths and Safe Kids Minnesota.
Due to overwhelming positive response from communities, the number of citations provided law enforcement agencies across Minnesota has grown over the last decade, according to Mitts. Since the program start, more than 1 million citations for a free DQ ice cream cone have been issued to youth across the state.
For more information about the DQ system, visit DairyQueen.com. Connect with the DQ system on Twitter using #HappyTastesGood and follow the system at twitter.com/dairyqueen. Visit the DQ Facebook fan page and become a friend at facebook.com/dairyqueen.
List of participating Agencies
Police Departments
Ada
Akeley
Albany
Anoka
Apple Valley
Appleton
Atwater
Austin
Avon
Baxter
Bayport
Becker
Belgrade/Brooten
Bemidji
Benson
Big Lake
Blaine
Blooming Prairie
Brooklyn Park
Buffalo Lake
Buffalo
Burnsville
Canby
Cannon Falls
Centennial Lakes
City of Robbinsdale
Clara City
Cold Spring
Columbia Heights
Cottage Grove
Crystal
Cyrus
Dawson
Dayton
Deephaven
Deer River
Duluth Township
Eagan
East Grand Forks
East Range
Eden Valley
Elk River
Elko New Market
Ely
Faribault
Farmington
Foley
Forest Lake
Frazee
Gaylord
Glencoe
Glenwood
Glyndon
Grand Rapids
Granite Falls
Hawley
Henning
Howard Lake
Hutchinson
Keewatin
La Sueur
La Crescent
Lake Park
Lakefield
Lakes Area
Lawry
Lester Prairie
Lewiston
Lino Lakes
Litchfield
Long Prairie
Lonsdale
Madelia
Melrose
Menahga
Mendota Heights
Morris
Motley
Nashwak
New Brighton
New Prague
New Richland
New Ulm
New York Mills
Nisswa
North Branch
North Mankato
Northfield
Oak Park Heights
Osseo
Owatonna
Park Rapids
Parkers Prairie
Paynesville
Perham
Preston
Ramsey
Rice
Richfield
Rochester
Rogers
Roseau
Roseville
Sartell
Sauk Centre
Sauk Rapids
Savage
Sebeka
Shakopee
South St. Paul
Spring Grove
Spring Lake Park
St. Anthony
St. Francis
St. James
St. Joseph
St. Louis Park
St. Paul Park
St. Paul
St. Peter
Staples
Starbuck
Stillwater
Thief River Falls
Twin Valley
University of MN – Duluth
Upper Sioux
Verndale
Virginia
Wadena
Waite Park
Walker
Warroad
West Concord
West St. Paul
White Bear Lake
Willmar
Winona
Winsted
Wyoming
Zumbrota
Sheriff Departments
Aitkin County
Anoka County
Becker County
Beltrami County
Benton County
Blue Earth County
Brown County
Carlton County
Carver County
Cass County
Chisago County
Clay County
Clearwater County
Cook County
Cottonwood County
Crow Wing County
Dakota County
Dodge County
Douglas County
Faribault County
Fillmore County
Freeborn County
Goodhue County
Grant County
Hennepin County
Houston County
Hubbard County
Isanti County
Itasca County
Jackson County
Kanabec County
Kandiyohi County
Koochiching County
Lac qui Parle County
Lake County
Lake of the Woods County
Le Sueur County
Lyon County
Marshall County
Martin County
McLeod County
Meeker County
Mille Lacs County
Morrison County
Mower County
Nicollet County
Nobles County
Olmsted County
Otter Tail County
Pennington County
Pine County
Pipestone County
Polk County
Pope County
Ramsey County
Redwood County
Renville County
Rice County
Roseau County
Scott County
Sherburne County
Sibley County
St. Louis County
Stearns County
Steele County
Stevens County
Swift County
Todd County
Traverse County
Wabasha County
Wadena County
Waseca County
Washington County
Watonwan County
Winona County
Wright County
Yellow Medicine County
Other
Hennepin County EMS
Plymouth Public Safety Department (EMS & Fire)
West Hennepin Public Safety
Woodbury Public Safety