Buckle Up, Parsippany: 'Click It Or Ticket' Is Back

PARSIPPANY, NJ — Parsippany motorists are now under increased scrutiny as a new seatbelt enforcement campaign kicks off, with fines for those not wearing their seatbelts.

Starting today, the annual 'Click It or Ticket' campaign has returned, with Parsippany among the 105 New Jersey communities taking part.

Running through June 2, the campaign is funded by a $7,000 grant from the Division of Highway Traffic Safety (HTS), Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. The money will cover road patrols, seatbelt checkpoints, and other enforcement efforts.

“Whether you’re commuting during rush hour or heading down the shore for the weekend, wearing your seat belt should be second nature,” said Michael J. Rizol Jr., Director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety.

In 2023, 117 people killed in New Jersey crashes were not wearing seat belts, accounting for 39% of all vehicle occupant fatalities. Nearly one in four of these unrestrained victims were between the ages of 16 and 24, officials said.

Despite once being among the highest in the nation, seatbelt usage in New Jersey has been steadily declining in recent years, prompting a renewed effort by law enforcement and HTS to reverse this trend.

Last year’s 'Click It or Ticket' campaign resulted in 7,225 seatbelt citations, 508 speeding summonses, and 809 cell phone violations, Platkin said.

The campaign also coincides with the start of the high-risk period between Memorial Day and Labor Day, when crashes, injuries, and fatalities typically increase. As summer travel ramps up, New Jersey police will ramp up patrols to enhance road safety and reduce fatalities. Funded by the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, these efforts will focus on speeding, impaired driving, and violations of the Move Over law.

“The numbers don’t lie – seat belts save lives. It’s a simple step that can mean the difference between life and death. Every seat, every ride, every time," Rizol Jr. added.