Martin Police Department Announces 'Click It or Ticket' Campaign

MARTIN (November 16) – As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches and more drivers hit the roads, the Martin Police Department is partnering with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) to remind motorists to “Click It or Ticket.” From now through November 29, participating agencies across the state will increase seatbelt enforcement as part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) nationwide mobilization.

“During the ‘Click It or Ticket’ campaign, we’ll be working with our fellow law enforcement officers across local and state lines to ensure the seatbelt safety message gets out to all drivers and passengers,” said MPD Capt. Eric Reed. “By far, buckling up is the simplest thing you can do to limit injury or save your life during a crash. We see the results of not wearing a seatbelt all the time. We see the loss of life and devastating injuries that could’ve been prevented with the simple click of a seatbelt. That’s why buckling up is more than just a good idea — it’s the law,” he added.

According to NHTSA, in 2018, there were 9,778 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in the United States. In that same year, 56 percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed at night (6 p.m.–5:59 a.m.) were not wearing their seatbelts. That’s why one focus of the “Click It or Ticket” campaign is night-time enforcement. Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seatbelt law enforcement, writing citations day and night. In Tennessee, the maximum penalty for a seatbelt violation is a $55 fine.