LANSING, Mich. — Kids aren't always truthful, especially when it comes to getting in trouble.
But a new program is keeping parents in the know-- whether their kids want them to know or not.
Getting pulled over is something that no teen really wants to tell their parents, but with the S.T.O.P.P.E.D. program, they don't have to, because parents automatically get a notification.
"I would want to know about that. Most teens wouldn't tell you because they think you will take away the keys away from them," parent Patricia Pupugh said.
In the past, if a teen was pulled over, the notification would go into the mail. Now, Sheriff Offices in Michigan can be a part of The Sheriffs Telling Our Parents and Promoting Educated Drivers (STOPPED) program, which sends the information right after a traffic stop via email or text message. All they need to do is sign up, and put the sticker on the car.
"Typically, this dangerous driving starts out with small indiscretions, going over the speed limit, blowing through a stop sign, that kind of stuff. And before it leads into tragic consequences I think it's important that the parents know hey your loved one, your child is starting to slip up a little, and the parents can decide if there need to be consequences," Ingham County Sheriff Scott Wriggelsworth said.
Parents in the area think the program is a good idea and are happy that police are able to watch out for their kids when they aren't around.
"We have that responsibility, we gave birth to them, or we adopted them or brought them into our family one way or another, it's real important that we make sure that they're safe because that keeps us able to sleep at night," Ralph Haefner said.
Sheriff Wriggelsworth says the program isn't designed to be 'Big Brother,' but to keep teens safe on the roads.
"This is a preventative piece. And before a tragedy happens if we can go through this program to get to the parents and the parents can get to the kids and correct some of these dangerous driving behaviors, we all win."
To sign up, all you have to do is visit the Michigan Sheriff Associations Website. Click here for more information.
You can have your child enrolled in the program until they are 21.
In addition to the reason for the stop, the notification includes time and location of the stop and the number of passengers in the vehicle.
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