Staff Report

The Suffolk Police Department will join state law enforcement in the &uot;Click It Or Ticket&uot; mobilization to enforce the commonwealth’s safety belt and child safety seat laws. Suffolk police will participate in high visibility patrols from now through the Memorial Day holiday.

Virginia law allows law enforcement to cite anyone driving a car in which an occupant under age 16 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 over the age of 16.

According to The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, 942 persons were killed in motor vehicle related crashes in 2003.

&uot;It can’t be overemphasized; safety belts and child safety seats save lives,&uot; said Lt. J. C. Patterson. &uot;Wearing a safety belt triples your chance of surviving a crash. Proper use of safety belts and child safety seats save millions of dollars in medical costs each 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.&uot;

&uot;Click It Or Ticket&uot; is one of several programs under the Smart, Safe and Sober partnership.

Smart, Safe and Sober is a statewide program dedicated to preventing death and injury on Virginia roadways. It is a joint partnership of Suffolk Police Department, the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, the Virginia Department of State Police, the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association, DRIVE SMART Virginia, and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.