Dover, Del. (May 19, 2025) — The Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS)  is collaborating with state and local law enforcement to engage in the high visibility Click It or Ticket seat belt safety campaign. This national initiative aligns with the Memorial Day holiday and operates from May 19 to June 8. The purpose of this enforcement is not solely to issue citations but to save lives and reinforce the importance of buckling up, every trip, every time.

“Although Delaware has a high seatbelt usage rate, the number of unrestrained fatalities is alarming,” said Sharon Bryson, Director of the Office of Highway Safety. “It is important to ensure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained before driving. Whether you are using a seatbelt, booster seat, or five point harness car seat, these restraints are all designed to help save lives and should be used correctly. The results of not wearing a seatbelt can be devastating, and buckling up can help prevent serious injury and fatality for you and your passengers.”

Delaware has maintained a seatbelt usage rate of around 92% over the last five years; however, 58% of the fatalities in 2024 involved unrestrained individuals. Younger occupants appear to be the most likely to be involved in unrestrained crashes. Occupants 19 and under represent 18% of all crashes. There is also a high representation of unrestrained crashes with the 35-44 age group. May of 2024, 87% of drivers and passengers involved in a collision and wearing a seatbelt sustained no injuries. Seatbelts work and significantly decrease your chances of death or serious injury in a crash.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2023, 10,484 of fatalities in traffic crashes were not wearing seat belts. Too many people wrongly believe they are safe to be unrestrained in the back seat. Of all front-seat passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2023, 48% were unrestrained, but 60% of those killed in back seats were unrestrained. Click it or Ticket is a day and night enforcement. In 2023, 56% of passenger vehicle occupants killed at night (6 p.m.–5:59 a.m.) were not wearing their seat belts.

Occupant protection is important for all ages and sizes. In addition to increased patrols, OHS wants to educate drivers and passengers on the dangers of unrestrained driving and the correct way to buckle up safely:

Consequences of not wearing a seat belt:

• Just airbags alone are not enough to protect you. The force of the airbag can cause serious injury and even fatality to you or your young passengers if not buckled up or in the correct car seat.
• Not buckling up can result in being ejected from the vehicle in a crash, which is almost always deadly. Seat belts help keep you secure inside of your vehicle.
• Improperly wearing a seat belt, such as putting the strap below your arm, or behind your back, can cause the restraint to not work properly and prevent it from protecting you in a crash.

Guidelines to buckle up safely:

• The lap belt and shoulder belt are secured across the pelvis and rib cage, which are bare strong points on your body that can withstand crash forces better than other parts of your body.
• Place the shoulder belt across the middle of your chest and away from your neck.
• The lap belt rests across your hips, not your stomach.
• NEVER put the shoulder belt behind your back or under an arm.
• Children are much more likely to buckle up themselves if their caregivers also buckle up.
• Don’t rush to transition your child to the next car seat. Follow the guidelines and keep your child in each stage of child restraint as long as possible.

For more information on the campaign, statistics, and education visit: www.arrivealivede.com/buckle-up/

About the Delaware Office of Highway Safety
The Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is committed to improving the safety of Delaware’s motoring public by focusing on behavioral traffic safety issues, such as impaired driving, seat belt use, speeding, child passenger safety, pedestrian and bicycle safety, motorcycle safety, and teen driving issues. FAQs can be found at ArriveAliveDE.com. Follow OHS on the Delaware Office of Highway Safety website, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

Media Contact:
Meghan Niddrie
Meghan.niddrie@delaware.gov
302-744-2517 

Delaware’s adult-use marijuana program marked a major milestone as Joshua Sanderlin was officially sworn in as the state’s new Marijuana Commissioner today. His appointment signals a new chapter for the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner (OMC), the regulatory agency tasked with implementing and enforcing the Delaware Marijuana Control Act, which took effect on July 5, 2023. OMC’s mission is to oversee the adult-use and medical marijuana industry with a focus on public health, preventing underage use, ensuring equity, and generating tax revenue through a safe and well-regulated market.

Sanderlin brings over 15 years of experience advising businesses, investors, and policymakers on marijuana regulation and public policy. As principal of Sanderlin Strategies, he has worked across multiple jurisdictions to support licensing, compliance, and the development of marijuana programs. Previously, he practiced law at Greenberg Traurig, where he represented clients in regulatory and legislative matters.

“Josh Sanderlin’s depth of regulatory experience and his focus on equity and transparency will be critical as we create a system that protects public health, promotes opportunity, and delivers on the promise of responsible legalization,” said Governor Matt Meyer.

“Commissioner Sanderlin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this very important role at a crucial time. His leadership will be instrumental in moving the process forward to stand up the State’s recreational market,” said Department of Safety and Homeland Security Secretary Joshua Bushweller.

Sanderlin holds a Juris Doctor from the Catholic University of America, a Master of Public Administration from Florida State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Jacksonville University. He is widely respected for his commitment to transparency, equity, and good governance in emerging industries.

OMC also recognizes the leadership of Deputy Commissioner Paul Hyland, who has played a key role in advancing the state’s marijuana program during the transitional period. “OMC is excited to welcome Commissioner Sanderlin and to hear his vision for the future of this office,” said Hyland.

“I’m honored to serve as Delaware’s Marijuana Commissioner,” said Sanderlin. “I look forward to working with the dedicated team at OMC and partners across the marijuana industry to build a safe, well-regulated market that delivers real justice and lasting benefits to all Delawareans.”

Free week-long program for ages 14 to 18 years old. Applications due by May 30.

 
Dover, Del. — The Delaware Division of Alcohol & Tobacco Enforcement (DATE) is excited to announce the 2025 Youth Police Academy, taking place the week of July 21, 2025, at the Delaware National Guard Readiness Center in Smyrna, Delaware.

This free, week-long program offers high school students ages 14 to 18 a unique opportunity to learn about law enforcement and substance use prevention. Participants will receive hands-on instruction from DATE officers and law enforcement professionals from across the state, along with presentations from prevention experts focused on reducing youth use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana.

Training topics include:

• The mission and role of DATE
• Physical fitness
• Police K9 demonstrations
• Law enforcement drone operations

To qualify, applicants must be between 14 and 18 years old, in good physical health, and have no negative contact with law enforcement.
Applications are due by May 30, 2025.

Apply online at: https://shorturl.at/RMyiW

For questions or additional information, please contact Cpl. Keith Shyers at 302-741-2706.

CONTACT: Lieutenant M. J. Loiseau
O: (302) 741-2704
E: Michael.loiseau@delaware.gov 

The Office of the Marijuana Commissioner (OMC) is pleased to share that the FBI has issued OMC a fingerprint service code for selected applicants.

In April 2025, FBI denied the State’s reconsideration request for a fingerprint service code, citing the need for greater specificity in Delaware’s authorizing statute. OMC worked expeditiously with the General Assembly to address the concerns. House Bill 110 was developed and passed to specifically identify the categories of individuals required to undergo fingerprint-based criminal history background checks.

Governor Matt Meyer signed HB110 into law on April 24, 2025. Upon enactment, the State Bureau of Identification (SBI) submitted the revised language to FBI for review.

The FBI has partially approved the revised language, with one exception to the term “agent” as being overly broad. OMC will work with the General Assembly to make that technical correction.

OMC will contact selected applicants this week with next steps.

“Fingerprint-based background checks are a vital part of ensuring public safety and maintaining the integrity of the program,” said Paul Hyland, Acting Marijuana Commissioner. “We appreciate the FBI’s collaboration and are excited that selected applicants can continue moving forward.”

OMC will provide updates as implementation progresses.

DOVER, Del. — The Delaware Police Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST), a division of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS), has announced that three more Delaware police departments have successfully achieved reaccreditation by the Delaware Police Accreditation Commission (DPAC) at its recent meeting.

The agencies are the Newport Police Department (three-year), Greenwood Police Department (two-year), and the Ocean View Police Department (three-year). DPAC assessors evaluated each of the agencies by reviewing the department’s policies, procedures, and practices. The DPAC team also conducted a comprehensive onsite inspection and interviewed department members to ensure all accreditation standards were met.

House Bill 206 mandates that all police agencies must be accredited by 2028. All police departments are currently proactively working towards state accreditation through the POST/DPAC section of DSHS.

The Delaware Police Accreditation Commission (DPAC) has adopted over 100 standards related to professional policing. The DPAC is active in its mission to advance law enforcement in Delaware through the establishment of professional standards and the administration of a formal mechanism by which Delaware agencies can be systematically measured, evaluated, and updated. The POST website maintains a list of current accredited police agencies in Delaware.

ABOUT THE POLICE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING COMMISSION

The Delaware Police Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST), a division of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS), oversees standards and training for all police officers in Delaware. POST aims to improve the professionalism and behavior of officers by setting qualifications for new recruits, education and training requirements, and training standards. POST advises the Delaware Police Accreditation Commission (DPAC), provides guidelines for local oversight boards, and investigates potential officer misconduct relative to certification.