It’s back to school in Santa Clarita, which means local youth will be riding bikes, scooters and skateboards and more to school. To promote community safety, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies will be out in full force to issue free ice cream coupons to kids and teens wearing appropriate safety gear. It’s all part of the City and Sheriff’s Department’s new Scoops for Safety operation, presented in partnership with Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour.

Throughout September, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station Deputies will be on the look-out for Santa Clarita youth who are wearing helmets while riding bikes, skateboards, scooters and more. Each safety-equipped kid spotted by Sheriff’s Deputies will receive a coupon for one free scoop of ice cream at Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour in Santa Clarita.

“California law requires that all youth under the age of 18 wear properly fitted helmets when operating bicycles, skateboards and other methods of non-motorized transportation,” said Sergeant Rich Cohen of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station’s Traffic Unit. “The Sheriff’s Department and City are partnering together for the Scoops for Safety operation to reward Santa Clarita kids for wearing helmets and practicing responsible safety habits.”

The “Scoops for Safety” operation is the culmination of the City and Sheriff’s Department’s Bike Safety Campaign, launched in May 2014 to help reduce collisions among bikes, cars and pedestrians on Santa Clarita streets.

“The Bike Safety Campaign is designed to encourage residents of all ages to practice safer habits on the road, and this includes wearing helmets when required,” said Captain Roosevelt Johnson of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. “I can’t think of a better way to encourage kids to wear helmets than by offering them free ice cream for doing so. Thanks to the generosity of Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour, we’re doing just that.”

In 2012, the City of Santa Clarita saw 99 traffic collisions involving bicyclists and pedestrians. In response, the City and Sheriff’s Department launched the Bike Safety Campaign to increase awareness among motorists, pedestrians and cyclists, and provide simple tips to reduce collisions on Santa Clarita streets.

For more information about the “Scoops for Safety” operation, contact Deputy Josh Dubin of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station at jddubin@lasd.org or (661) 255-1121 ext 5802. For more information about the City and Sheriff’s Department’s Bike Safety Campaign, visit bikesantaclarita.com.