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Community Corner

CT Service Plazas 1st Child Safety Day

Darien, CT (January 14, 2014) – More than 134,000 vehicles drive through the Darien area every day, and the state’s Service Plazas are committed to the well-being of those they serve. On Saturday, January 18, the Connecticut Service Plazas will hold its first Child Safety day from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Free AmberAlert Child ID cards will be distributed to parents or guardians of the children in attendance.

 

The Safety Day will be held at the I-95 Darien Southbound Service Plaza. WEBE 108 FM is co-sponsoring Child Safety Day and will broadcast live from the event. The children who attend will be entertained by “Andy the Amazing Magician.”

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The parent or guardian of participating children will receive a wallet-sized, laminated card with a photo of the child, a unique AMBERAlert number and essential information needed to find the child in the event the child is abducted. The encrypted information is sent to a secured National AMBERAlert data base. The only requirement is for the parent/guardian to fill out and sign a brief consent form. The child should be present for an accurate photo to be taken. Registration and the first AmberAlert ID card are free; additional cards can be purchased for $2.

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The AMBERAlert Child ID program is a program available for all children under the age of 18. AMBERAlert Child ID events are held by participating Rotary Clubs across the country; this event will be held in collaboration with the Clinton Rotary Club.

"The idea behind these ID cards is to get the child's information and a good picture to law enforcement as fast as possible in the unfortunate case that a child goes missing or is abducted," said Jack Eagan, Clinton Rotary Club Amber Alert Child ID Coordinator.

Eagan, who has over 40 years of law enforcement experience, says that often the photos provided to authorities are not the most accurate. These ID cards ensure that officers in the field will have access to a very accurate photo. The Connecticut State Police can also use the AmberAlert database to distribute the information outside the state to aid in the search.

“CT Service Plazas is invested in the communities that we serve here,” said Paul Landino, President and CEO of Project Service. “We want the children of Connecticut to be as safe as possible, and if we can do one small thing to help ensure their safety we are more than happy to do so.”

 

About CT Project Service

Project Service LLC has a long-term contract with the state to renovate and operate the Service Plazas. Twelve of 23 Service Plazas have been completely renovated and reopened. All 23 Service Plazas are open twenty-four hours a day. Each Service Plaza offers different food options; some of these options include Subway, McDonalds, and Dunkin’ Donuts. Each Service Plaza also features a convenience store and an ExxonMobil gas station. The plazas also have clean restrooms, free WiFi and backup power generators for use during power outages.





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