As motorists take to the roads this Memorial Day holiday, La Porte County Sheriff's officers police are urging everyone to buckle up. Beginning May 12, law enforcement officials will be out in full force, taking part in the 2017 national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization and cracking down on motorists who are not belted.
"As we kick-off the busy summer driving season, it is critical that everyone buckles up every time they go out, day and night - no excuses," said Captain Jon Keene "Our officers are prepared to ticket anyone who is not wearing their seat belt, including drivers that have neglected to properly buckle their children - Click It or Ticket."
At 4:00 p.m. on May 22, La Porte County Sheriff's deputies will join law enforcement agencies across half of the United States in mobilizing the Click It or Ticket (CIOT) "Border to Border" Operation. Law enforcement agencies will join forces to provide increased seat belt enforcement at State borders, sending a zero tolerance message to the public: driving or riding unbuckled will result in a ticket, no matter what State.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 9,874 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2015 were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash. And unbelted fatalities are more prevalent at night than during the daytime: 51 percent of those killed in 2015 during the overnight hours of 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. were unbelted at the time of the crash.
Tragically, these national statistics are mirrored locally. "Seat belts save thousands of lives every year, but far too many motorists are still not buckling up, especially at night when the risk of getting in a crash is even greater," said Captain Jon Keene. "We want to make this the safest summer possible. Buckling up is not optional; it's the difference between life and death in a crash. That's why we're out here enforcing the law. Click it or Ticket, every time, day or night."
From 1975 through 2015, seat belts have saved an estimated 344,447 lives nationwide. So while this year' s Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization runs from May 12 - June 4 n Indiana, officers will continue to save lives by enforcing seat belt laws year-round.
For more on the national Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.nhtsa.gov.