For More Information Contact:
Sgt. Alonzo Montanya
845-486-3834 or amontanya@dutchessny.gov
Dutchess County Sheriff Kirk Imperati, in conjunction with the New York State Sheriff’s Association, is proud to announce that the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office is adopting the Blue Envelope Program. This new initiative is an important safety program for drivers and other vehicle occupants, including children, with autism.
Sheriff Imperati said “There are many county families who are living with autism. Some of these residents drive our roads, so it is important for us as law enforcement to be able to better serve them. As law enforcement we should recognize that a driver’s physical movements or verbal responses, which would normally be appropriate during a traffic stop, may be beyond an autistic driver’s control. Without proper training and awareness there could be interactions where the officer could misinterpret an autistic driver’s actions or their failure to appropriately respond to requests or directions. These are instances we want to avoid, helping to keep everyone safe.”
To address this problem, law enforcement agencies around the country have begun adopting the Blue Envelope Program. These agencies are encouraging drivers with autism to obtain a Blue Envelope to store all the relevant documents that a Deputy would request during a traffic stop – such as their license, registration, and insurance card. In this way, when the Deputy Sheriff sees the Blue Envelope, they are alerted to the driver’s autism and can adjust their own actions or reactions to fit that situation.
The New York State Sheriffs’ Association is promoting this program statewide and many Sheriff’s Offices are rolling out the program, including the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Imperati asks that interested members of the community contact Sgt. Montanya at amontanya@dutchessny.gov or call (845)-486-3834 to learn more. The Sheriff is encouraging his Deputies and other law enforcement officers in the county to be aware of the significance of the Blue Envelope if one is presented by a driver during a traffic stop.