Lewisville Municipal Court is hitting headlines again as it bags the 2024 Municipal Traffic Safety Initiatives Awards for Medium Volume Courts, marking its second consecutive win. The Texas Municipal Courts Education Center (TMCEC) hands out this prestigious honor as a part of its Municipal Traffic Safety Initiatives (MTSI) grants program. The Courts are measured on their proactive strides in stepping up traffic safety and curbing impaired driving, traffic crashes, and fatalities among other concerns.
The court didn't just coast on past glories; it's been a beehive of activity in the fight for road safety. From community outreach to creative sentencing, the court's been pulling all stops to elevate communication and education in the community on safety issues. According to the City of Lewisville, Texas, this heavy lifting hasn't gone unnoticed.
Let's talk about outreach efforts. One of the court's tactics involved teaming up with Lewisville FD, where a damaged fire truck became a teaching aid at Western Days. This wasn't just for show—the court staff distributed flyers to bring attention to the steeper penalties associated with the “Move Over/Slow Down” law violation.
Even kids are getting a slice of the safety education pie. During the “National Read at a School Day,” a Juvenile Case Manager served up some knowledge with a reading from the “Bernard Bear Safety Belt Book,” educating youngsters on the importance of buckling up. Afterward, this same Case Manager engaged in a hands-on activity, helping measure kids to see if they were booster seat-bound.
The court didn't shy away from using their website as a promotional platform either. The “Move Over/Slow Down” law takes a spotlight on the site, pressing on the law's importance to the community. And let's not peel away from their Teen Court program, which slings young offenders into rehabilitative education and community service, including courses on drug, alcohol, and tobacco awareness.
Recognition for all these efforts comes in the form of the MTSI Award, which will be presented to the court on April 4 in San Antonio at the MTSI Conference. Continuing its mission, the Lewisville Municipal Court chalks up another victory not just in accolades, but in the ongoing campaign for better road safety awareness.
