The Marion County Sheriff’s Office has introduced a new program designed to help hearing-impaired drivers interact with deputies.
Statistics show that nearly three million Floridians have some form of hearing loss. Realizing the potential for miscommunication during a traffic stop between the deputy and the driver, the sheriff’s office has designed a communication card to assist with this issue.
Those participating in the program will receive a special sticker to place on the rear of their vehicle that alerts deputies to the fact that the driver is hearing-impaired. A visor card also is provided for the driver to keep in the car to present to the deputy during a traffic stop.
This visor card uses pictures and phrases that both the deputy and the driver may point to in order to better communicate with each other. This will help ensure that the driver knows the reason for the traffic stop and will ensure that the deputy knows how best to help the driver.
Hearing-impaired citizens can pick up the cards at any district office.
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said his goal is the safety of deputies and the citizens they serve.
“I believe this is just one more way to ensure that we provide our citizens with the best service and quality of life they deserve,” he said.
