The Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office is conducting increased enforcement during the month of January regarding suspended objects in vehicles.

Freeborn County Sheriff Kurt Freitag said the department would conduct the campaign for the month “to educate drivers that it’s not only illegal to drive with things hanging from the rear-view mirror, but it can also have deadly consequences. We can learn from a tragedy and do our best to prevent it from happening again.”

Freitag recommended motorists remove objects from mirrors before driving and remind family members to do the same. 

A Minnesota State Patrol investigation found the driver who struck and killed an 8-year-old Albert Lea girl in July 2016 was violating state law at the time of the crash.

Sophie Stultz died July 2, 2016, after colliding with a 2003 Mercury Mountaineer while riding her bicycle at the intersection of Frank Hall Drive and Eighth Street.

The driver, Stephen Laverne Kaasa, was found to have a handicap parking permit hanging from his rearview mirror, and the crash investigation reportedly found the permit blocked much of his view. It violates state law to have suspended objects between the driver and windshield.

Sarah Stultz, Sophie Stultz’s mother and managing editor of the Tribune, thanked the Sheriff’s Office for bringing awareness to the issue.

“I am hopeful this campaign will educate others of the importance of keeping rearview mirrors clear of items — whether it be a handicap placard, an air freshener or something else,” Sarah Stultz said. “Even something that is perceived to be small can take away more of our view than we realize.”