Police

‘Click It or Ticket’ campaign kicks off May 20

The Southold Police Department will participate in the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee’s “Buckle Up New York, Click it or Ticket” campaign kicking off later this month.

The 14-day initiative will run through Memorial Day, from May 20 through June 2, according to Southold police. During that period officers will be conducting high visibility, zero tolerance checkpoints throughout town to draw attention to the use of seat belts.

According to the state’s Highway and Safety Program, 21 percent of highway deaths in New York occurred when occupants were unrestrained.

Current state law requires all front-seat occupants to wear a seatbelt, regardless of age. The seat belt law also applies to rear-seat passengers under the age of 16.

Fines for front-seat passengers caught in violation face fines of $50 and up, while drivers failing to have children properly secured may be fined up to $100 and receive up to three points on their driver’s license.

Since the “Click it or Ticket” campaign was implemented in 1984, New York has reached its highest seat belt use rate of over 90 percent, according to New York State’s Highway and Safety Program.

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