FORT KENT – Law enforcement officials from the Fort Kent Police Department will team up with Northern Maine Medical Center’s volunteer ENCARE nurses in Monday, Nov. 19, for the purpose of checking to see that drivers are adhering to seat belt usage laws.

The stepped-up enforcement is part of Operation ABC: America Buckles Up Children, a nationwide effort. The nurses, Jane Rioux, NMMC nurse manager for the emergency room, and Pauline Jandreau, and the officers will do spot checks at a Fort Kent location and have brochures on seat belt usage and riding with drivers who drink.

The program has been created to educate drivers about the importance of protecting themselves, children and other passengers from the high degree of risk and injury that occurs as a result of being unbuckled in a vehicle during a crash.