ND Law Enforcement Agencies Issue 'BOLO' For Kids Wearing Bike Helmets

While on patrol this summer, North Dakota law enforcement agencies will be on the lookout 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 14,000 North Dakota youth will be written a 'citation' for a free small DQ® cone for wearing a helmet while biking, skateboarding or in-line skating.

"We want to encourage youth to wear a helmet in hopes they develop a lifelong appreciation for safety," said Gene LaDoucer, regional director of public affairs for AAA-The Auto Club Group. "Program sponsors enjoy providing positive reinforcement to youth and hope parents will take the next step in modeling the desired habit of wearing helmets themselves."

According to Safe Kids Worldwide, properly-fitted helmets can reduce the risk of head injuries by at least 45 percent – yet less than half of children 14 and under usually wear a bike helmet. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study 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 North Dakota Sheriffs and Deputies Association, the North Dakota Chiefs of Police Association, Vision Zero and Safe Kids coalitions in Bismarck, Grand Forks, Fargo and Minot and DQ®.

Due to overwhelming positive response from communities, the number of citations provided law enforcement agencies across North Dakota has grown over the eight years of the program, according to LaDoucer. Since 2013, more than 120,000 citations for a free DQ® 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.

2023 Participating Agencies

NDSU Police Dept

Williston Police Dept

Jamestown Police Dept

Williams Co. Sheriff's Office

Bismarck Police Dept

Valley City Police Dept

Lincoln Police Dept

Cass Co. Sheriff's Office

North Dakota Highway Patrol

Ward Co. Sheriff's Office

Wishek Police Dept

Grand Forks Police Dept

NDSCS Police Dept

Morton Co. Sheriff's Office

Wahpeton Police Dept

Mandan Police Dept

Minot Police Dept

Surrey Police Dept

Grand Forks Sheriff's Office

West Fargo Police Dept

Dickinson Police Dept

Stutsman Co. Sheriff's Office

Fargo Police Dept

Minot AFB Security Forces

Barnes Co. Sheriff's Office

Benson Co. Sheriff's Office

Stark County Sheriff's Office

Dunn Co. Sheriff's Office

Grafton Police Dept

Burke Co. Sheriff's Office

Bismarck State College Police Dept

Richland Co. Sheriff's Office

McHenry Co. Sheriff's Office

Watford City Police Dept

Pembina Co. Sheriff's Office

About AAA - The Auto Club Group
The Auto Club Group (ACG) is the second largest AAA club in North America with more than 13 million members across 14 U.S. states, the province of Quebec and two U.S. territories. ACG and its affiliates provide members with roadside assistance, insurance products, banking and financial services, travel offerings and more. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with more than 62 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA's mission is to protect and advance freedom of mobility and improve traffic safety. For more information, get the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.