Click It or Ticket Campaign Starts November 25th

East Hartford, CT - With the Thanksgiving Weekend upon us, Connecticut’s law enforcement agencies intend to promote safe driving and increase the protection of all motorists.  The East Hartford Police Department is reminding motorists to Click It or Ticket.  Officers are out on the roads enforcing the State Occupant Protection laws and issuing citations to those who are unbuckled.  Aimed at enforcing seat belt use to help keep families safe, this seat belt campaign will take place November 25 through December 2, concurrent with the busy Thanksgiving holiday travel season.

“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,” said East Hartford Police Chief Scott Sansom.  “Help us spread this life-saving message before one more friend or family member is severely injured or killed as a result of senseless inaction. Seat belts save lives, and everyone—front seat and back, child and adult—needs to remember to buckle up—every trip, every time.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 9,466 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants were killed in crashes in the United States during 2019. While that was a decrease from 2018, an early study for 2020 suggests that during the COVID-19 public health emergency, driving patterns and behaviors changed significantly. Of those drivers who remained on the roads, there was more risky behavior, including people not wearing seat belts.  That’s why participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night.  In Connecticut, the penalty for a seat belt violation is $92.00.

Arrive to Thanksgiving Dinner Safe and Sound:  Buckle Up—Every Trip.  Every Time.

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