WATERLOO - Waterloo Police officers will join forces with other Iowa law enforcement agencies for a traffic enforcement project Thursday.

Entitled Operation Double Aught 2008, authorities in the counties that share U.S. Highways 20 and 30 will target impaired driving, safety belt and child passenger restraint use, stop sign and stop light violations, speeding and driving without a license.

The goals of this project include raising Iowa's safety belt use rate from the current 91 percent, reducing impaired driving and preventing fatalities and injuries.

Last year's project resulted in 778 traffic contacts with five narcotics arrests and three operating while intoxicated arrests.

This effort is one among many planned for the summer and early fall. Seat belt use violations and impaired drivers will be primary concerns for law enforcement across Iowa.