By Rusty Bradshaw

Independent Newsmedia

Some light was shed on a January Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office recall of seat belts installed on golf cars through community programs.

MCSO officials issued a voluntary recall of seat belts installed on by volunteer deputies through programs initiated by the Retirement Community Association in Sun City and the Sheriff’s Posse of Sun City West since 2009. Hundreds of seat belts were installed free of charge to those who showed up at public giveaways.

The posses in both Sun Cities hosted events to have the belts removed by those owners who wanted them taken off. The Sun City West event was Feb. 17 and Feb. 24 in Sun City. The MCSO substation on Bell Road hosted an uninstall event Feb. 10.

At the time of the recall, MCSO officials only said there was some concerns about the belts but were not specific about the reason for the recall.

Art Jenkins, Sun City Home Owners Association board member, asked during the Feb. 21 Roads and Safety Committee for details on the recall.

“There was an incident in Sun City West that included a fatality and there was some question as to whether the seat belt contributed to the death,” said Tim Lambin, Sun City Posse operations officer.

He said the concern stemmed from the fact the seat belts were installed by volunteers, not mechanics or certified dealers.

The seat belts themselves are not defective,” Mr. Lambin said. “Owners will get them back when they are uninstalled and they can have them reinstalled by a mechanic or certified dealer.”