“Click It or Ticket” campaign continues

The 2015 “Click it or Ticket” Campaign continues. “This year’s seat belt emphasis began May 18 and will continue through the end of the month,” says Ponca City Police Patrol Division Captain Earl Watkins.

According to the National Highway Transportation Administration, seat belts save about 13,000 lives each year.

“ A checkpoint is planned between now and the end of the campaign” Watkins stated. “Our officers will be checking for proper safety belt usage, valid driver’s license, insurance compliance, etc.”, he added.

Oklahoma law requires drivers and front seat passengers age 13 and over to have a safety belt properly fastened at all times the vehicle is being operated. Children age 12 and younger are required to be properly restrained in the appropriate car seat, booster seat or seat belt, according to the child’s age and weight.

“ We can’t make the decision to buckle up for you, and we hope it won’t take getting a ticket to help you remember to fasten that seat belt or buckle your child correctly,” Watkins said. “Unless you want to risk a ticket – or, even worse, your life – you must buckle up.”

The Ponca City Police Department receives funding from the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office, through an annual competitive grant process, for reimbursement of additional funds for enforcement.