Running from May 24th
to June 6th, the annual initiative includes high-visibility law
enforcement seat belt checkpoints and saturation patrols.
The statistics are
clear - not buckling up increases the risk of being seriously injured or
killed in a motor vehicle crash, said Sgt. Michael Babulski, Commander
of the Linden Police Traffic Bureau.
For the first time, the
campaign will focus on rear seat passengers as well. New
legislation that now requires adult rear seat passengers to be buckled
up became law earlier this year. Currently, adult back-seat belt
use stands at 32%. Last year, the front-seat belt usage rate in
New Jersey rose for the 13th consecutive year to 92.67%.
During the 2009
campaign, 443 police agencies in New Jersey participated in the two-week
initiative. As a result of the effort, law enforcement officers issued
41,442 seat belt citations. In Linden, officers issued 442 seat
belt tickets.
All motorists should be
forewarned, whether you are on our city streets or the highway, day or
night, it's "click it or ticket". It's a habit that can save your
life," Sgt. Babulski said.
