Riverhead Police announce ‘Click It or Ticket’ campaign

In advance of the Memorial Day holiday, Riverhead Town Police are urging everyone to buckle up. Beginning May 22 and concluding on June 4, law enforcement officials will be out in full force, taking part in the 2017 national “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement mobilization — also known locally as “Buckle up New York” — and cracking down on motorists who are not belted.

“As we kick off the busy summer driving season, it is critical that everyone buckles up every time they go out, day and night – no excuses,” said Riverhead Highway Patrol Officer Dennis Cavanagh. “Our officers are prepared to ticket anyone who is not wearing their seatbelt, including drivers that have neglected to properly buckle their children.

On May 22, Riverhead Police will join law enforcement agencies across the East Coast in mobilizing the “Click It or Ticket-Border to Border” Operation. Law enforcement agencies will join forces to provide increased seat belt enforcement, sending a “zero tolerance” message to the public: driving or riding unbuckled will result in a ticket, no matter what state.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 48 percent of the 21,676 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2012 were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash. And unbelted fatalities are more prevalent at night than during the daytime. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 10,335 passenger vehicle occupants – 61 percent of those killed in 2012 during the overnight hours of 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. – were unbelted at the time of the crash.

“Seat belts save thousands of lives every year, but far too many motorists are still not buckling up, especially at night when the risk of getting in a crash is even greater,” said Riverhead Police “Click It or Ticket” campaign co-ordinator Sergeant John Vail. “We want to make this the safest summer possible. Buckling up is not optional; it’s the difference between life and death in a crash. That’s why we’re out here enforcing the law. Click It or Ticket, every time, day or night.”

In 2012, seat belts saved an estimated 12,174 lives nationwide according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While this year’s “Click It or Ticket” enforcement runs from May 22 through June 4, officers are out enforcing seat belt laws year-round.

For more on the national Click It or Ticket mobilization, visit www.nhtsa.gov.