Document ID: NHTSA-2015-0037-0001
Agency: nhtsa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Survey of Law Enforcement Officers/Agencies; Attitudes Toward and Resources for Traffic Safety Enforcement
Posted Date: 2015-04-29T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 82 (Wednesday, April 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23849-23850]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-09990]

[[Page 23849]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket No. NHTSA-2015-0037]

Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping Requirements

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.

ACTION: Request for public comment on proposed collection of 
information.

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SUMMARY: Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from 
the public, it must receive approval from the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB). Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit 
public comment on proposed collections of information, including 
extensions and reinstatements of previously approved collections.
    This document describes the collection of information for which 
NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 29, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number 
NHTSA-2015-0037 using any of the following methods:
    Electronic submissions: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
    Mail: Docket Management Facility, M-30, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590.
    Hand Delivery: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. Fax: 1-(202) 493-2251.
    Instructions: Each submission must include the Agency name and the 
Docket number for this Notice. Note that all comments received will be 
posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov including any 
personal information provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. J. Stephen Higgins, (202)-366-
3976.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
before an agency submits a proposed collection of information to OMB 
for approval, it must publish a document in the Federal Register 
providing a 60-day comment period and otherwise consult with members of 
the public and affected agencies concerning each proposed collection of 
information. The OMB has promulgated regulations describing what must 
be included in such a document. Under OMB's regulations (at 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)), an agency must ask for public comment on the following: (i) 
Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (ii) The accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (iii) How to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (iv) How to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, including the 
use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. In 
compliance with these requirements, NHTSA asks public comment on the 
following proposed collection of information:

Survey of Law Enforcement Officers/Agencies: Attitudes Towards and 
Resources for Traffic Safety Enforcement

    Type of Request--New information collection requirement.
    OMB Clearance Number--None.
    Form Number--NHTSA 1186.
    Requested Expiration Date of Approval--3 years from date of 
approval.
    Summary of the Collection of Information-- NHTSA is interested in 
the attitudes of Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs) and the resources that 
Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) have for traffic safety enforcement. 
More specifically NHTSA is interested in past and present LEO 
viewpoints, agency resources currently being employed, how resources 
are being utilized, and which additional resources can be implemented 
to make the enforcement of traffic safety more successful, efficient, 
and safe for both the Law Enforcement Community as well as the public. 
NHTSA proposes to collect information from LEOs and LEAs responsible 
for traffic safety enforcement. Information will be collected through a 
separate survey completed by line officers and supervisors, as well as 
structured phone interviews with LEA Chiefs or their designees. Agency 
administrative data will be gathered through authorized LEA personnel 
responsible for maintaining such information.
    This proposed study is the first step in NHTSA understanding the 
attitudes and challenges that LEOs and LEAs have with traffic safety 
enforcement. The agency will gain not only valuable information on the 
attitudes of Law Enforcement but will also gain valuable guidance in 
the logistics involved in recruiting and collecting data from agencies 
and officers as well as the quality of responses and data from the 
developed instruments for larger nationally representative future 
studies.
    Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the 
Information--NHTSA has the responsibility for promoting and 
implementing effective educational, engineering and enforcement 
programs with the goal of ending preventable tragedies and reducing 
economic costs associated with vehicle use and highway travel. In June 
2001, a NHTSA report stated that ``command emphasis is obviously 
essential to sustaining traffic law enforcement levels. During times of 
budget shortfalls or public safety problems, traffic enforcement is one 
of the first areas to be curtailed. Without the support of senior staff 
and officials, efforts may decline.'' \1\ As a consequence of recent 
economic challenges, a number of LEAs have merged traffic enforcement 
with other enforcement divisions in order to reduce costs.
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    \1\ Cyr, E., Jones, R.K., Lacey, J.H., & Wiliszowski, C.H. 
(2001). A trend analysis of traffic law enforcement in the United 
States (DOT 809 269). Washington, DC: NHTSA.
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    This project will document the state of current attitudes and 
resources and how they have changed in recent years. The result of this 
project will assist NHTSA in determining what can be done to encourage 
a more ideal prioritization of traffic safety.
    Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number, 
and Proposed Frequency of Response to the Collection of Information)--
For the proposed study, we will recruit participant groups from 40 LEAs 
across the United States. LEOs, supervisors, and staff compiling 
administrative data will supply data via a web survey. Chiefs will 
provide information through structured telephone interviews. 
Approximately 40 semi-structured interviews will be conducted via 
telephone with either the agency head or his/her designee. An estimated 
1,200 law enforcement officers will complete the web-based survey. 
Approximately 80 supervisor-level officers will complete a separate 
web-based survey.
    Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Record Keeping Burden

[[Page 23850]]

Resulting from the Collection of Information--The web survey for the 
line officers and supervisors will average approximately 15 minutes 
including introduction, consent, confidentiality, survey questions, and 
debriefing. The estimated completion time for each semi-structured 
interview is 30 minutes per agency head or designee. Individuals 
providing administrative data have an estimated completion time of 30-
45 minutes. The total estimated annual burden if all solicited 
participants respond is approximately 370 hours. Participants will 
incur no costs and no record keeping burden from the information 
collection.

    Authority:  44 U.S.C. Section 3506(c)(2)(A).

     Issued on: April 23, 2015.
Jeff Michael,
Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development.
[FR Doc. 2015-09990 Filed 4-28-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-59-P