Listen, we know the seatbelt burns like hell after baking in the Florida sun. But buckling up isn’t just about avoiding a ticket and traffic school, it's about safety.
Not to mention three points on your license.
From now until June 2, police departments across the state are amping up their efforts for the “Click It or Ticket” campaign, with emphasis on nighttime drivers.
Everyone in a car must be wearing a seatbelt, according to Florida laws. This doesn’t just go for drivers, it also goes for passengers who aren’t buckled and for underaged children who aren’t properly strapped in.
If a law enforcement offer sees a driver or passenger not buckled, they have the right to pull the car over.
In 2017, 10,076 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants were killed in crashes in the United States according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Sergeant Anthony Frangioni, Sarasota Police Department Traffic Unit made a statement to ABC Action News about the enforcement tactics for the coming weeks.
"Buckling up is a simple task that can keep you and your family safe in the car. But it's more than that. Buckling up is the law. Our Officers see the consequences of not buckling up. We see the loss of life. Often, it could have been prevented with the simple click of a seat belt. This should be automatic for every driver and passenger in a vehicle.”
Avoid the ticket and the risk.
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