Zero Tolerance Seatbelt Enforcement Campaign

For immediate release:

DOVER, MA – The Dover Police Department, in partnership with the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Highway Safety Division (EOPSS-HSD), the State Police and over 120 other local departments, is launching a high-visibility seat belt enforcement mobilization called Click It or Ticket. This marks the first seat belt enforcement mobilization across the state this year, designed to increase seat belt use and decrease motor vehicle fatalities and injuries. The message is simple: Massachusetts drivers and passengers should always wear their seat belts or be prepared to face the consequences.

During the “Click It or Ticket” mobilization from May 14th through June 3rd, extra traffic enforcement patrols will be on our streets in a concerted effort to promote and enforce seat belt use with the ultimate goal of saving lives across the state. These patrols are funded by a grant from EOPSS-HSD obtained by the Dover Police Department.

DPD, like many departments across the state, has adopted a zero-tolerance policy for seat belt violations signaling the increasing importance of seat belt use. In fact, if pulled over, everyone in the car found not wearing a seat belt will be ticketed.

“Too many people still have the attitude that a serious crash will never happen to them,” said Dover Police Officer Robert G. Clouse. “Unfortunately tragedies on the road happen unexpectly every day. The best protection against death or injury is a seat belt.”

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), based on known usage, 49 percent of the people killed in passenger motor vehicle crashes in Massachusetts during 2010 were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.

“Too many people shrug off the statistics because they see themselves as good drivers,” said Officer Clouse, “but they forget that they can be hurt in a crash caused by another driver. Your best defense is to buckle up.”

So remember, if you are pulled over for violating traffic laws, law enforcement will be checking to make sure drivers and passengers are wearing their seat belts. Seat belt use can be the difference between life and death. It is the best defense in a crash. Remember to Buckle Up, Every Trip, Every Time.

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Media inquiries may be directed to Media Services contact. Please do not contact the Emergency Communications Center directly on this matter.

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