LANSING -- While Leelanau County gets ready to start its STOPPED (Sheriff’s Telling Parents and Promoting Educated Drivers) program, Grand Traverse County’s participation hasn’t been what was expected.

“The amount of people that have signed up for it, last I knew, was less than what I anticipated,” Grand Traverse County Sheriff Scott Fewins said.

The program promotes safer driving among teenagers.

Leelanau County will soon announce its participation in the program, said Sheriff Michael Oltersdorf.

“It’s a positive approach to an existing problem,” said Oltersdorf.

“Teenagers are dying at a disproportionate rate to their population in society,” said Terrence Jungel, executive director of the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association. “They’re 15 percent of the population – they’re 24 percent of the fatalities.”

Under the free program, parents register the vehicles their teenagers drive. Once registered, a STOPPED sticker is placed on the windshield to alert officers of participation in the program.

“It tells me, first of all, that the parent is involved in this kid’s life,” Jungel said. “We’ve got parents that want to know if we stop that vehicle.”

The police agency making the stop sends a letter informing the parents of the reason for the stop, location, number of people in the vehicle and whether a ticket was issued.

Oltersdorf said, “It’s making parents more aware. It’s a partnership between parents, teens and police.”

Fewins said he expects the stickers to increase awareness of the program.

“We’re hoping that as more people see the little STOPPED sticker they’ll inquire,” he said.

Lack of awareness is a big reason for the lower-than-expected interest in the program, Fewins said.

Not much has been done to promote the program in Grand Traverse County, aside from a press conference and reports in the local media, he said.

Statewide, the program is operating in 70 of 83 counties, with about 3,000 registered vehicles, Jungel said.

Other Northern Michigan participants include: Wexford, Antrim, Kalkaska, Manistee, Benzie and Missaukee counties.

The program is funded entirely by grants from AAA of Michigan.

“We thought it was an excellent opportunity. It also went right along with what we were trying to push, which is parental involvement,” said Jack Peet, community safety services manager for AAA of Michigan.

Response has been positive from both parents and teenagers, he said. For teens, having the sticker in the car helps alleviate peer pressure and the sticker reminds teens that if they get caught, they won’t get away with it.

It gives them a chance to say no to their friends, he said.

And Jungel said, for parents, the program gives them assurance that their teens are following the rules.

“I’m going to trust my children, I’m letting them drive my car, but I’m going to verify that they’re going to follow the rules,” he said.

Parents can register for the program online at www.michigansheriff.com or by completing the registration form available at their county sheriff’s office.