Gansett Police Join Click It or Ticket 2012 Campaign

The Narragansett Police Department will join local and national law enforcement officers and highway safety advocates all across the country for the 2012 national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization from March 15 to March 24.

During the mobilization, teams of officers will be monitoring traffic and ticketing motorists who fail to wear their seat belts – both day and night.  Violators will be fined $85 for each unrestrained vehicle occupant.

Because nighttime passenger vehicle occupants are among those least likely to buckle up and most likely to die in crashes when unrestrained, nighttime enforcement has become a priority of the Click It or Ticket mobilization. Of those who died in nighttime crashes in 2009, nearly two-thirds (62 percent) were not wearing seat belts at the time of their fatal crashes.

In 2009, 11,593 passenger vehicle occupants died in motor vehicle crashes nationwide between the nighttime hours of 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In Rhode Island, data shows that 79 percent of passenger vehicle fatalities occurred between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. In those fatal crashes, nearly three-quarters of the motorists killed were not wearing their seat belts.

“Many more nighttime traffic deaths can be prevented if more motorists simply start wearing their seat belts.  That’s why the Narragansett Police Department is strongly supporting enhanced nighttime enforcement of seat belt laws during the March 15 to March 24, 2012, Click It or Ticket campaign,” Lt. Thomas Mahoney said.

Safety belt use saves thousands of lives each year across America. In 2009 alone, seat belts saved 12,713 lives nationwide.  Law enforcement will be cracking down on Click It or Ticket violators around the clock.  Local motorists should be prepared to buckle up. If law enforcement finds you on the road unbuckled anytime or anywhere, you can expect to get a ticket — not a warning. No excuses and no exceptions.  

Remember to buckle up and encourage your loved ones to do the same. You’ll save the cost of a ticket and may even save a life.         

Release published courtesy of the Narragansett Police Department.