Local Motorists Have High Seatbelt Compliance Rate

By Andrew Gorosko

Police statistics compiled for the recent “Click-It or Ticket” seatbelt compliance enforcement campaign show, after the project ended, that an estimated 96 percent of motorists were wearing seatbelts while driving in town, according to Sergeant Christopher Vanghele.

That represents a three percent increase in seatbelt usage, compared to the 93 percent of motorists who were wearing seatbelts before the enforcement project began, based on police statistical surveys, he said.

Sgt Vanghele termed the police’s two-week seatbelt enforcement project a success in that it encouraged an even higher percentage of motorists to wear seatbelts while driving.

From November 16 to 29, police participated in the enforcement project, which is part of a national police campaign to increase motorists’ compliance with seat belt laws.

During the two-week period, police increased seatbelt enforcement through increased patrols, use of a regional enforcement task force, specialized DUI patrols, seatbelt checkpoints, and a sobriety checkpoint, he said. (See related story)

Sgt Vanghele listed all the traffic enforcement that police performed during the two-week Click-It or Ticket campaign. That enforcement includes a sobriety checkpoint that was held on November 28–29, he said.

During that two-week period, police issued 79 infractions and eight warnings for failure to wear a seatbelt. Such infractions carry a $37 fine. Police also issued two infractions for child safety seat violations.

During that period, police made four drunken driving arrests, issued 28 infractions and 68 warnings for speeding, provided 70 citations and 253 warnings for miscellaneous motor vehicle offenses, made 13 noncriminal arrests, and also arrested 11 people for driving while under suspension, Sgt Vanghele said.