Livingston County Sheriff Department badge. File photo
Livingston County Sheriff Thomas Dougherty recently announced the adoption of the New York State Sheriffs’ Association Blue Envelope Program.
The Blue Envelope Program was developed to assist drivers with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and other developmental or mental health disorders in communicating pertinent information to police officers on a traffic stop. A driver’s physical movements or verbal responses which would normally be appropriate during a traffic stop, may not be possible by a driver with such a condition. There have been some unfortunate incidents throughout our nation where, during a traffic stop, an officer has misinterpreted a driver’s movements or actions due to the driver’s ability to appropriately respond to the officer’s requests or directions.
To address this problem, law enforcement agencies around the country have recently begun adopting the Blue Envelope Program. In collaboration with local partners, the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging drivers with developmental disabilities such as ASD or mental health disorders to obtain a blue envelope in which drivers can keep their license, registration, insurance card and other relevant documents. This way, when a police officer observes a driver with a blue envelope, the officer is immediately alerted to the possibility that the driver may have a developmental disability or mental health condition and can adjust his or her actions, and respond appropriately.
If you wish to obtain a blue envelope, please visit the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office at 4 Court St. and request one. For any further questions regarding this program please contact the Livingston County Community Policing Unit at 585- 243-7921.
