This Thanksgiving holiday, the NOPD is teaming up with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on a high-visibility “Click It or Ticket” seat belt awareness campaign.

From November 19 to November 26, the law enforcement community will be working together to reduce the number of fatalities that occur when vehicle passengers fail to buckle up. If they spot you without a seat belt on, they will pull you over and issue a ticket.

During the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in 2020 (6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25, to 5:59 a.m. on Monday, November 30), there were 333 passenger vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes across the nation. More than half (52%) were unrestrained. Nighttime proved more deadly than daytime, with 67% of Thanksgiving weekend fatal crashes occurring at night. These deaths represent needless tragedies for families across America and may have been prevented with the simple click of a seat belt.

“Buckling your seat belt isn’t a suggestion, it’s the law,” NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said, “Whether you’re driving cross-country or across the street, you must wear your seat belt. The bottom line is this: That seat belt may very well mean the difference between life and death. This Thanksgiving, and every day of the year, remember: Click It or Ticket.”

State laws regarding seat belt use (Louisiana RS: 32:295.1) can be found at this link.

For more information about traveling safely this Thanksgiving, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/seat-belts.