On May 9, 2014, the Champaign Police Department will be joining the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Illinois State Police (ISP) and hundreds of local law enforcement agencies across the state by participating in the 2014 Illinois Click It or Ticket seatbelt safety campaign. The Department hopes to save lives by strongly enforcing seat belt laws.
In Illinois, as of January 1, 2012, all drivers and passengers must wear seat belts in all seating positions in the car, not just the front seat. During statewide observational surveys conducted by IDOT in 2013, the overall usage rate for rear seat occupants was 77.4 percent versus 93.7 percent for drivers and front seat passengers. Provisional numbers show that during the 2013 Memorial Day weekend there were three fatalities and almost 600 injuries on Illinois roadways. Two of those fatalities were alcohol-related. Remember, wearing your seat belt is your best defense against an impaired driver.
Beginning May 9, 2014, theChampaign Police Departmentwill be patrolling city streets to enforce seat belt laws by looking for drivers and passengers who are not buckled up. If front and/or back seat passengers are caught not wearing a seat belt, they are subject to being ticketed. “Memorial Day weekend kicks off the busy summer driving season, and we want to ensure that everyone arrives at their destination safely,” said Sgt. Joe Ketchem. “Our officers are prepared to ticket anyone, front or back seat, who is not wearing a seat belt.”
While this year’s Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign runs from May 9 through May 26, officers are out enforcing seat belt laws year-round. Buckle up and encourage your loved ones to do the same. You will save the cost of a ticket and may save a life. For more information about the Click It or Ticket campaign, please visit www.buckleupillinois.org.
Please contact Sgt. Nate Rath at the Champaign Police Department, 351-4545, or [email protected] for a media ride-along during a seatbelt safety enforcement zone.