PHOTO #1: From left, Court Administrator Tiffany Totah and Municipal Court Judge Vanessa Heinold accepted the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center’s Municipal Traffic Safety Initiatives Award during the Municipal Traffic Safety Initiatives Conference held April 3-5 in San Antonio.
PHOTO #2: Victoria Police Department Sr. Police Officer Lee Peters and Detective Emily Erickson watch as a student attempts to complete a field sobriety test at Nazareth Academy during an exercise conducted in preparation for a mock trial that was held March 4. Photo contributed by Nazareth Academy.
The City of Victoria Municipal Court has received the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center’s Municipal Traffic Safety Initiatives Award for the fourth year in a row for its efforts to promote safe driving through education and public outreach.
The court connects with residents during community events such as National Night Out and trunk-or-treats to educate residents about traffic safety and the dangers of impaired driving. These events often include hands-on activities with impairment goggles.
The court partners with local schools to host mock trials that include lessons on safe driving for middle school students. The fictional cases often deal with crimes related to traffic safety, such as driving under the influence of alcohol.
In preparation for the mock trials, Municipal Court Judge Vanessa Heinold and Victoria Police Department officers visit the classes to teach students about field sobriety tests and conduct activities using impairment goggles.
The court has also implemented its child passenger safety program in partnership with A&M AgriLife Passenger Safety and KidSafe Initiatives Program. During their car seat inspection events, caregivers can learn about best practices for child safety seats and find out whether their children are buckled up properly.
Municipal Traffic Safety Initiatives Conference
Municipal Court Judge Vanessa Heinold and Court Administrator Tiffany Totah accepted the award on behalf of the court during the Municipal Traffic Safety Initiatives Conference, which was held April 3-5 in San Antonio.
During the conference, Heinold and Totah learned about many different topics related to traffic safety—including impaired driving, pedestrian and motorcycle safety—as well as Seeing “RED,” a Municipal Traffic Safety initiative to save lives.
Get involved
To partner with the court for a traffic safety event, visit www.victoriatx.gov/courtoutreach.