The Seymour Police Department announced Wednesday that it will be participation in the next “Click It or Ticket” enforcement effort, set to run from May 13 to June 4. Chief Bill Abbott says his officers will join more than 250 state and local law enforcement agencies, and thousands more across the country, to conduct high-visibility patrols encouraging drivers and passengers to buckle up.
“Wearing your seat belt, either as a driver or passenger, is the essential beginning for staying safe on the road,” said Chief Abbott. “Increasing public awareness and heightening enforcement through our participation in this campaign is a great way to boost the importance of seat belt safety. If you are unbelted, we will pull you over.”
Click It or Ticket is an annual enforcement effort supported by federal funding allocated to local departments from the Traffic Safety division of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. The Seymour Police Department says that more than 10 of its officers will work overtime to conduct seat belt patrols around the clock. According to ICJI, in 2016, there were 827 people killed on Indiana roadways. Of those fatalities, 36 percent were found to be unrestrained.
“I am grateful for all the agencies involved in this campaign, which is vital to encouraging people to buckle up,” said Dave Murtaugh, director of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. “We will continue to spread the message of how crucial seat belt use is in saving lives and reducing injuries.”
Indiana law enforcement agencies have been actively involved in the Click It or Ticket campaign for over 20 years. In addition, for 2017, Indiana agencies are set to join those from across the Eastern half of the country in a combined “Border to Border” mobilization. On May 22, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., organizers say this joint mobilization will “be a driving force for seat belt safety, and unbelted, whether driving or riding, will result in a ticket.”
For more information on the Click It or Ticket campaign, visit: www.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa/ciot/index.html.