Bennett County Sheriff's Office

06/30/2026

The Bennett County Sheriff's Office would like to remind the public of the City of Martin city ordinance 3-1-1 relating to fireworks:

Private persons and individuals may discharge ground displays, firecrackers, sparklers,
roman candles, bottle rockets, or smaller type aerial displays, from June 29th through July 2nd and on July 5th between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. On July 3rd and 4th between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 11:00.

Thank you,
Sheriff Jason Erwin
Bennett County Sheriff

06/26/2026

2026 JULY 4TH BUZZED DRIVING IS DRUNK DRIVING
SOCIAL NORMING CAMPAIGN

Plan for a Sober Ride this Fourth of July

As the nation celebrates Independence Day, the Bennett County Sheriff's Office, the Department of Public Safety-Office of Highway Safety, and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reminding drivers that drinking and driving is deadly and never an option. Please join us in sharing this message for a safe celebration of Independence Day: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.

Every year, the days around and including the Fourth of July holiday rank as one of the deadliest periods on the nation’s roads. In 2024, there were 579 people killed in traffic crashes during the holiday period. From 2020 to 2024, there were 1,724 driver fatalities of the 2,719 total traffic fatalities. Thirty-eight percent of those drivers were drunk drivers.

Impaired driving is never acceptable. For some people, even one drink is too many to drive safely. While everyone is making plans with friends and family for Fourth of July festivities, it is crucial to also make plans for a sober ride home and completely rule out drinking and driving. We’re partnering with the Department of Public Safety-Office of Highway Safety, and NHTSA to remind drivers that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. Celebrating our nation's independence safely is our biggest responsibility.

If a driver intends to drink during an Independence Day festivity, he or she should plan ahead for a safe ride home by securing a designated driver or calling a taxi or rideshare. They shouldn’t wait until after drinking to plan how to get somewhere. Impairment clouds a person’s judgment and endangers others on the road.

If a driver finds they are unable to drive, they should give their keys to a sober driver so that person can get them home safely. When a friend has been drinking and is considering driving, friends should be proactive — take away the keys and help them get a sober ride home. If anyone spots a drunk driver, contact local law enforcement.

Drive 100% sober, because Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. For more information on impaired driving, visit NHTSA.gov/ImpairedDriving, https://drivesafesd.com/impaired-driving/.

Sheriff Jason Erwin
Bennett County Sheriff's Office

06/17/2026

Come see us along with OST Emergency Management, Bennett County Sheriff's Office, and OST DPS Highway Safety on Main Street during Martin Summerfest for a Bicycle Rodeo! Have your children bring their bikes for bike safety checks, helmet giveaway (provided by SDEMSC), courses they can go through, and other great things!! Don’t wanna miss out!

05/11/2026

A big THANK YOU to our friends at Bennett County Ambulance Service! You guys rock!! ❤️🤍💙

05/03/2026

https://youtu.be/U8Ous8KDZFA?si=cKEHva6WyGbKM44C

2 likes. "South Dakota Office of Highway Safety | “The Buckle”"

05/03/2026

Seat Belts Saves Lives
Buckle Up May 11th – May 31st, and Every Day

The Bennett County Sheriff’s Office, the South Dakota Department of Public Safety-Office of Highway Safety, and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is urging drivers to buckle up ahead of the Click It or Ticket seat belt safety campaign. The national high-visibility seat belt enforcement effort, which coincides with the Memorial Day holiday, runs May 11th-31st, 2026.
Seat belt use should be an automatic habit for drivers and passengers alike. During the Click It or Ticket campaign, we’ll be working with our fellow law enforcement officers across local and state lines to ensure the message gets out to drivers and passengers. Not buckling up could mean a ticket, or worse, risking a life.
In 2024, there were 9,758 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes. The national seat belt use rate in 2024 was 91.2%, which is good — but it can be better. The other 8.8% still need to be reminded that seat belts save lives. Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night.
One of the focuses of the Click It or Ticket seat belt campaign is nighttime enforcement. NHTSA data shows a higher number of unrestrained occupant fatalities happen at night (56% between the hours of 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m.). Of the males killed in crashes in 2023, more than half (53%) were unrestrained. For females killed in crashes, 41% were not buckled up.
Buckle Up the Right Way
• Place the shoulder belt across the middle of the chest and away from the neck.
• Lay the lap belt across the hips and not the stomach.
• NEVER place the seat belt behind the back or under arms.
We are asking friends and family to remind each other to buckle up in the front and back seats and to consider changing their habits if they don’t. Seat belts save lives, and everyone — front seat and back, child and adult — needs to remember to buckle up.
For more information on the Click It or Ticket seat belt high-visibility enforcement campaign, please visit NHTSA.gov/ClickIt. and https://drivesafesd.com.

Sheriff Jason Erwin
Bennett County Sheriff’s

Wear your seat belt every time—no matter how uncomfortable it feels or how far you're going. Because there's no such thing as a good excuse for not buckling up.

01/19/2026

The Bennett County Sheriff's Office visited Onward Learning and spoke with the students about being in Law Enforcement before touring our patrol vehicles.

Thank you Onward Learning for inviting us to do this presentation

12/29/2025

Student seats are still avilable!!

Registration is open for our Spring 2026 EMT Course!

Grant funding available for qualified students.

Course details on the flyer below.

Visit our website: www.sanfordemseducation.org
for the course flyer and scan the QR code on the bottom right of the flyer for registration.

Email our office if you have questions:
[email protected]

12/03/2025

The Bennett County Sheriff's Office plans on conducting Sobriety Checkpoints in the month of December in conjunction with the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign

12/03/2025