The NOPD will join other law enforcement agencies across the U.S. in this year’s national “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement campaign, which will take place May 20-June 2, 2019.

As part of this campaign, NOPD officers will coordinate highly visible seat belt enforcement.

According to NHTSA, in 2017, there were 10,076 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in the United States. In that same year, 55 percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed at night (6 p.m.–5:59 a.m.) were not wearing their seat belts. That’s why one focus of the Click It or Ticket campaign is nighttime enforcement. Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night.

“The Click It or Ticket campaign is so important because it raises awareness about seat belt safety during the time period when seat belts are least used,” said NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson “With an increased number of cars flooding the streets due to the Memorial Day holiday, it’s imperative we get the word out about the importance of seat belt safety.”

Ferguson said that he hopes this enforcement crackdown makes people more aware to the dangers of unrestrained driving.

“If you know a friend or a family member who does not buckle up when they drive, please ask them to consider changing their habits,” he said. “Seat belts save lives, and everyone—front seat and back, child and adult—needs to remember to buckle up every trip, every time.”

For more information on the Click It or Ticket campaign, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/ciot.