Yorktown Police: 'Click It or Ticket' Means Zero Tolerance

Information provided by the New York State Police and the Yorktown Police Department. It was posted by Plamena Pesheva.

Law enforcement officers across the country have joined in for the national "Click It ori cket" seatbelt enforcement campaign, which runs from May 20 to June 2. 

"The goal of the Yorktown Police Department is to increase voluntary seat belt use of our residents in an effort to reduce the seriousness of injuries sustained in accidents on our roads," Yorktown Police Chief Daniel McMahon said. 

With Memorial Day and the holiday weekend right around the corner, officials are targeting those who forgo a seatbelt.

“As we kick-off  the busy summer driving season it’s important that everyone buckles up every time they go out, both day and night – no excuses,” State Police Major Michael Kopy said in a press release. “Our officers are prepared to ticket anyone who is not wearing their seat belt – Click It or Ticket.”

Authorities will carry out a "border to border operation," across the Northeast, which means that agencies sharing state lines will "team up to provide increased seat belt enforcement at border sites." The goal is to send a message of zero tolerance, no matter the state, according to police.

“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,” Kopy said. “We want everyone to have a safe summer, but it requires an important step on the part of motorists—clicking that seat belt.” 

Here is some additional information provided in the press release:

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 52-percent of the 21,253 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2011 were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash. As noted, deaths involving seat belt nonuse are more prevalent at night than during the daytime. According to NHTSA, 62-percent of the 10,135 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2011 during the overnight hours of 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash. 

In 2011, seat belts saved an estimated 11,949 lives nationwide according to NHTSA