Click It or Ticket Public Safety Campaign Returns

Be sure to wear your seat belt when you drive—or face the consequences.

That's the message from Parsippany Police, which is launching another Click It or Ticket public safety effort.

Law enforcement officers will crack down on unbuckled motorists and passengers as part of this national campaign from May 20 through June 2, according to PPD spokesperson Sgt. Yvonne Christiano. The annual initiative includes high visibility law enforcement seat belt checkpoints and saturation patrols, as well as local and national publicity designed to teach drivers and passengers how seat belts can save lives.

Christiano said the most effective device for preventing deaths and injuries in motor vehicle crashes remains the seat belt. When used consistently, she said, seat belts save lives and reduce serious injuries.

In May 2001, New Jersey enacted a primary seat belt law for front seat occupants. As the result of the law, and the concerted enforcement and educational programs that accompanied it, Christiano said seat belt usage in the state rose steadily until 2012. In June of that year, a statewide survey showed 88.57 percent of respondents claimed to buckle up when they drive.

The sergeant said the program's 2013 objective is to increase seat belt usage statewide to 90 percent.

Police officers will conduct special enforcement patrols with the main focus to stop and issue summonses to motorists and to front- and rear-seat passengers who are not complying with the state’s seat belt laws. Officers will also enforce the child safety restraint law as appropriate, Christiano said.

During last year's campaign, local police issued 213 motor vehicle summonses, the sergeant said.