Border To Border, Officers Are Enforcing ‘Click It Or Ticket’
May 20, 2019, 12:17 PM | Updated: 12:55 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Highway Patrol troopers and other law enforcement agencies are out in full force looking for drivers and passengers who aren’t buckled up.
It’s all part of the “Click it or Ticket with Border to Border Seat Belt Enforcement Operation,” and neighboring states are also participating.
UHP Sgt. Nick Street said this year there will be no warning; it’s buckle up or pay up.
We're joining forces with our neighboring state law enforcement agencies for Border to Border seat belt enforcement – #ClickItOrTicket no matter what state you're in! pic.twitter.com/INnqPUJEn9
— Utah Highway Patrol (@UTHighwayPatrol) May 20, 2019
Enforcement kicked off Monday for not only Utah, but the border states as well – Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, New Mexico and Arizona.
During this time, 61 law enforcement agencies will be putting in the overtime with 615 shifts designated specifically to seat belt enforcement — just before the 100 deadliest days of summer starts Memorial weekend.
According to UHP, last year in the United States there were more than 10,000 people killed in traffic accidents who were not buckled up. In Utah, drivers are already set up to repeat a terrifying trend.
“Last year at this time we had 80 fatalities, and already this year we have 79,” Street said. “When we show up on a scene and you’ve been unrestrained, crashes are always worse, injuries are always worse to deal with. I’d be lying if I told you it didn’t affect us every time we see it.”
"Although we work in different states and for different organizations, we are all working toward the same goal: to reduce traffic fatalities and save lives." – @ColonelRapich on the Border to Border Seat Belt Enforcement Operation. Photos from UT-ID Border https://t.co/2XvRSQCr6t pic.twitter.com/zBhHS6yygb
— Utah Highway Patrol (@UTHighwayPatrol) May 20, 2019
Street said 55% of those deadly accidents without seatbelts happened at night, so this year troopers are focusing on night drivers.
Not all crashes happen on the freeway. A majority happen five minutes from home, and drivers are most likely to be in a deadly crash on a surface street.
Those caught without wearing seatbelts while in moving vehicles will face a $45 ticket.
