(Charlotte County) The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office will again be participating in the National Click It or Ticket campaign that runs from Monday May 20 until Sunday June 2. The goal of the campaign is to increase the rate of seat belt usage to help save lives.
Every year during the annual Memorial Day holiday weekend period, law enforcement agencies from across the nation join forces in an enforcement blitz to deliver the message to the motoring public to “Click It or Ticket.”
According to materials from the US Department of Transportation, seat belts are the most effective safety feature ever invented and have helped save thousands of lives. Yet, one in five Americans regularly fails to properly wear a seat belt while driving or riding in a vehicle.
Sheriff Bill Prummell urges everyone to buckle up when they are in a vehicle. Road patrol and traffic units will be taking this time to particularly note whether people are correctly wearing their seat belts.
“Seat belts must be worn with the strap across the shoulder and clicked into the buckle,” Sheriff Prummell said. “You can’t just tuck the shoulder strap under your arm or hold the end in your hand.” According to state statutes, wearing it incorrectly is the same as not wearing it.
The fine in Charlotte County for seat belt violation citations is $111.00.