PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
In 1995, Precinct 7 of the Harris County Constable's Office of Houston, Texas began a collaborative effort with the Houston Independent School District (HISD) to eliminate the problem of absenteeism in district schools. As part of this effort, Harris County Constable Office deputies were assigned to patrol school zones each morning and afternoon. Deputies soon identified several traffic safety problems in the school zones, including nonuse of seat belts.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of A.S.A.P. (Absent Student Assistant Program), as it was originally conceived, was to reduce absenteeism in the HISD. The goal of the traffic safety component of A.S.A.P. was to increase safety belt and child safety seat use and enforce compliance with other traffic safety laws. Project objectives were:

• To increase enforcement of traffic laws in Precinct 7 school zones
• To continue to improve Precinct 7's aggressive traffic safety educational program
• To continue to promote collaboration between Precinct 7 of the Harris County Constable's Office and the Houston Independent School District

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
In 1997, Precinct 7 of the Harris County Constable's Office resolved to address the traffic safety problems occurring around school zones, through expansion of their A.S.A.P. effort. Although A.S.A.P. was originally developed in collaboration between the HISD and Precinct 7 to address the problems of absenteeism in Houston schools, deputies assigned to patrol the school zones soon identified serious traffic safety problems, including speeding in the school zones and violation of seat belt laws.

The Harris County Constable's Office, a strong supporter of the Buckle Up America! Campaign, approached their partner in the A.S.A.P. effort, the HISD, to support expansion of A.S.A.P. to include increased enforcement of traffic safety laws by deputies on guard in school zones.

The HISD agreed to support expansion of A.S.A.P. activities, and the A.S.A.P. expansion effort received additional support from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Region 6 Law Enforcement Liaison. NHTSA provided literature to supplement the Constable's Office's traffic safety educational program, provided assistance for child safety seat checkpoints, and participated in neighborhood meetings.

WINTER 1999