MADISON, Wis. — Law enforcement agencies throughout Wisconsin will kick off a statewide Click It or Ticket safety belt enforcement campaign Monday.
Citing an increase in traffic due to the lifting of pandemic restrictions, officials with the Wisconsin State Patrol said the safety campaign will bring increased patrols statewide.
“We’re glad to see people traveling again, and we want them to do it safely,” Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary-designee Craig Thompson said. “The single, most important way motorists can protect themselves and their passengers, is by making sure everyone’s buckled up, for each and every trip.”
The Click It or Ticket campaign starts Monday, May 24 and runs through June 6. Drivers caught in violation of the state’s seat belt law may get ticketed for non-compliance. The law, which has been in effect since 2009, allows law enforcement to stop and cite motorists for not wearing a seat belt. Drivers can also be cited for each unbuckled passenger in their vehicle.
“We aren’t handing out tickets for the thrill of it. Wearing a seat belt is not only the law, it can save your life,” Superintendent Anthony Burrell said. Currently, 89% of Wisconsin motorists wear safety belts. The 11% who fail to buckle up accounted for 43% of all the drivers and passengers killed in Wisconsin traffic crashes in 2020.
In addition to funding increased patrols, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will use federal funds for public education campaigns on TV and radio, and in other settings.
More information about the campaign is available online.
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