Monday, May 19, 2008

Texas’ “Click It or Ticket” campaign starts today

By Brian Allen of Best Southwest Citizen

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) kicks off its 7th annual statewide Click It or Ticket campaign today with a stern reminder to Texas motorists: if you haven’t gotten into the habit of buckling up, it can cost you a fine of up to $200. The City of Lancaster received a grant from TxDOT to provide additional officers and resources to educate and encourage motorists to simply “Click It “to avoid the “Ticket.”

Thousands of state troopers, police officers and sheriff’s deputies will be on Texas streets and highways between May 19 and June 1, including the Memorial Day holiday weekend, issuing citations to drivers who aren’t buckled up and whose children aren’t properly restrained. This year, law enforcement will also pay extra attention to front seat-passengers who are not wearing safety belts.

Texas law requires drivers and front seat passengers in all vehicles to be secured by a safety belt. Children younger than 17 years old must be secured with a safety belt or in a child safety seat, whether they are sitting in the front or back seat. A child younger than five years old and less than 36 inches tall must be secured in a child safety seat. A safety belt violation can result in fines ranging from $25 to $200, plus court costs.

While more than 92 percent of Texas drivers buckle up, passengers are lagging behind when it comes to using safety belts. According to the Texas Transportation Institute, only 87 percent of passengers in Texas use a safety belt, and that number dips to 79 percent when evaluating pickup truck passengers.

Among partners joining TxDOT in the campaign are the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, local law enforcement agencies across the state, the Texas Department of State Health Services, the Texas Municipal Police Association, AAA Texas, National Safety Council and the Lancaster Police Department.

Pegasus News content partner - Best Southwest Citizen

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Comments

Pavel Lishin Verified

I buckle up as a habit; I feel naked and vulnerable when driving or riding shotgun without a seatbelt.

4 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Rick Yost Verified

Well, I don't know about the naked part, but I too habitually buckle up when in a vehicle. I may have seen too many scenes in movies where people without seat-belts go crashing through the windshield.

4 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )