by Brooke Kansier

PARENTS WHO HAVE qualms about their teen getting behind the wheel can rest a bit easier through a Michigan Sheriffs’ Association-backed program.

The program, “Sheriffs Telling Our Parents and Promoting Educated Drivers” — or STOPPED — informs parents any time a vehicle registered in the program is pulled over or involved in an accident, even if no ticket is issued.

“(Teens) are at the dangerous intersection of inexperience and risk taking,” said Terry Jungel, executive director of the sheriffs’ association. “It is in all of society’s best interest to make sure these teen drivers are driving safely, because they’re not hitting other teen drivers, they’re hitting us.”

Those who register for the free program receive a sticker to apply to the driver’s side window. When a traffic stop occurs, the officer will send the number found on the sticker to the sheriffs’ association.

From there, parents are sent information by mail or email — why the vehicle was stopped, when and where the stop occurred, whether a ticket was issued and how many people were in the vehicle.

Parents hopping in the car for a grocery run should not worry: information only would be sent if the vehicle’s driver is 21 or younger.

The program originated in New York, but Michigan is the only state to feature the program statewide. Michigan’s program — boasting over 30,000 registered vehicles — gets a large amount of its financial support from State Farm through their Celebrate My Drive program.

“Teen drivers are less experienced drivers. They develop poor driving habits that can escalate and even last a lifetime during their first few years behind the wheel,” Manistee County Undersheriff John O’Hagan said. “This is another tool that law enforcement can use to work in collaboration with parents to make sure kids are acting responsibly.”

Michigan has seen a decline in the number of teen traffic accidents in past years — with teen crashes declining 37.7 percent from 2004 — the year the program was introduced — to 2013, according to Michigan State Police.

The program has been in Michigan for over a decade, but recently received more support and attention in some areas, including Manistee County.

The county began advertising the program in 2012, and also recently assigned a patrol officer to spread the word, setting up booths at school events and distributing brochures to local businesses.

“We are stepping up to get the word out,” O’Hagan said. “It is our hope parents will look at it as a way to stay in touch with their kids when they are getting out on the roadways, showing their independence.”