State Rolls Out ‘Click it or Ticket’ Campaign

The Memorial Day weekend is upon us and the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety is urging everyone to buckle up.  Starting May 20, law enforcement officials will be out in force, taking part in the 2013 national 'Click it or Ticket' campaign, cracking down on motorists who aren't belted.

"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," said Division of Highway Traffic Safety Director Gary Poedubicky.  "Officers throughout New Jersey are prepared to ticket anyone who is not wearing their seat belt."

According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 52 percent of the 21,253 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2011 were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.  In 2011, seat belts saved an estimated 11,949 lives nationwide.

This year's 'Click it or Ticket' initiative runs from May 20 through June 2, but officers are out enforcing seat belt laws year-round.

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

Across the state, 124 agencies received $4,000 each to run the seat belt enforcement checkpoints and saturation patrols.