DIXFIELD – A safety belt enforcement effort conducted over the past two weeks was termed a success Monday night by police.

Chief Richard A. Pickett told selectmen that his officers made 116 vehicle stops during 12 five-hour shifts.

“It was more of a public service campaign rather than us ticketing people, but it was a rather successful campaign,” he said.

“The reason we want people to wear seat belts is that they save lives. Statistics prove it.”

A total of 26 summonses were issued, 12 of them for safety belt violations and one for a child safety seat violation. The remainder were for a variety of traffic violations.

One person was also arrested on an outstanding warrant, and 90 verbal and written warnings were issued regarding traffic violations, Pickett said.

Federal money totaling $200,000 gave police in several towns across the state the ability to staff more than one or two officers on patrol at a time.

During the crackdown, traffic violations from Dixfield to East Dixfield were observed, and warnings were issued, officer Mark Dow said.

“On the last couple of shifts of the grant, it was very difficult to find people who were not complying at all,” Pickett added Tuesday.

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