Click It or Ticket campaign begins

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - In an effort to save more lives on Virginia's roadways this spring, the Virginia Beach Police Department is partnering with State and other local law enforcement agencies to buckle down on all motorists not buckled up. Special seat belt checkpoints and other stepped-up law enforcement activities will be conducted during a heavy wave of enforcement, May 23 - June 5.

Virginia Law allows law enforcement to cite anyone driving a car in which an occupant under age 18 is not wearing a safety belt or is not properly secured in a child safety seat. The law also provides that drivers stopped for other violations can be cited if they are not properly restrained. This also applies to all front seat passengers.

"According to a preliminary report from the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), of the passenger vehicle occupants involved in fatal crashes in Virginia, the 55 percent that were restrained survived. When worn correctly, seat belts have proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent - and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs, and minivans."

"It can't be over emphasized: Safety belts and child safety seats save lives," says Chief J. A. Cervera of the Virginia Beach Police Department. "Wearing a safety belt triples your chance of surviving a crash. Proper use of safety belts and child safety seats save countless numbers of lives every year. We are participating in Click It or Ticket because we're committed to preventing the tragic loss of life and devastating injuries that come with not buckling up."