Northampton Twp. PD Partakes In Seatbelt Enforcement Initiative

NORTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP, PA — The Northampton Township Police Department has announced that they will be partaking in the "Click It or Ticket" seat belt enforcement initiative from Monday to June 5.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the national seat belt enforcement initiative is being pursued in an effort to remind Bucks County drivers of the importance of buckling up and reducing the number of injuries and fatalities related to a lack of seatbelt use.

"The goal is to reduce unbelted injuries and deaths on Pennsylvania highways through coordinated enforcement using Traffics Enforcement Zones and Roving Patrols," PennDOT said in a statement regarding the initiative. "Traffic Enforcement Zones combine stationary enforcement and checkpoint tactics on roadways with high numbers of unbuckled crashes."

Data collected by PennDOT stated that there were 11,265 crashes where drivers and/or passengers were not driving with a seat belt on in 2020. 348 fatalities occurred as a result of those crashes.

Pennsylvania's primary seat belt laws require drivers and passengers under the age of 18 to be buckled up. Drivers and front-seat passengers who are pulled over and not seen wearing a seatbelt will receive fines and tickets.

Children under the age of four must be secured in an approved child safety seat. Also, children between the ages of four and eight must be in an approved booster seat.