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Friday, May 24, 2002
George E.
Pataki, Governor
Raymond P. Martinez, GTSC Chair
'Click It
or Ticket': National Traffic Safety Campaign
Urges New Yorkers To Buckle
Up
"We're dead serious
about seatbelts in New York, because we know they save lives."
Raymond P. Martinez
Chair, Governor George E. Pataki's Traffic Safety Committee
Commissioner, Department of Motor Vehicles
Resulting from the success of
the "BUCKLE UP NEW YORK" campaign, the New York State Police and
law enforcement agencies throughout New York are participating in a
national seatbelt enforcement mobilization from May 20th through June 2nd,
designed to further improve highway safety.
New York, along with states
across the country, was selected by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) to demonstrate the effectiveness of
high-visibility, zero-tolerance enforcement, aimed at increasing seatbelt
use. The effort, coordinated by Governor George E. Pataki's Traffic Safety
Committee (GTSC), will urge motorists to buckle their safety belts or face
receiving a citation. The simple message: "Click It or Ticket."
"The 'Buckle Up New York,
Click It or Ticket' enforcement and education initiative sends a clear
message that seatbelts and child restraint seats save lives,"
Commissioner Martinez said. "By working with law enforcement agencies
throughout New York, we are taking a proactive approach to increase
awareness and spread a message that has helped make the last five years on
our highways and byways the safest period on record since the 1920s."
According to statistics, New
York's police officers issued over 500,000 tickets for seatbelt
violations, including child safety violations, in 2000. This was an
increase from 1998, when less than 200,000 were issued.
"We have made great
strides in improving highway safety in recent years, and the single best
way to save additional lives is to get everyone buckled up,"
Superintendent of State Police James W. McMahon said. "The fact is,
troopers, deputies and police officers across this state continue to see
people needlessly injured and killed on our highways because they weren't
buckled up, and law enforcement is united in its resolve to prevent these
tragedies. Very simply, it's 'Click It or Ticket.' ''
"Each and every year
hundreds of lives are saved and thousands of injuries are prevented as a
result of motorists wearing seatbelts," Commissioner Martinez said.
"Sadly, some New Yorkers still do not comply with the law. If these
individuals are involved in a crash, even at low speeds, the consequences
are much more likely to be catastrophic."
In addition to saving lives,
State Insurance Department Superintendent Gregory V. Serio said that
wearing seatbelts could potentially save New York's drivers billions of
dollars.
"Simply fastening your
safety belts is the most effective way we can protect ourselves and our
family members and prevent auto-related deaths and major injuries in New
York State," said Superintendent Serio. "Those who don't buckle
up not only run the risk of injury, but cost our nation's drivers $10.1
billion annually through higher automobile and health insurance rates and
through public assistance programs funded with federal and state tax
revenues."
"Campaigns like 'Click It
or Ticket' work to prevent deaths and injuries on our nations
highways," said the head of NHTSA, Dr. Jeffrey Runge. "As an
emergency physician, I can tell you firsthand that a seatbelt often means
the difference between survival and death in a crash."
Onondaga County Sheriff Kevin E. Walsh,
said, "Time and time again, the men and women of the Onondaga County
Sheriff's Office see, firsthand, the importance of wearing a seatbelt.
There is simply no easier way to save a life."
Syracuse Chief of Police Dennis T. DuVal,
said, "This is clearly a program we support to the fullest. Why?
Because seatbelts save lives."
New York's zero-tolerance
policy for seatbelt violations means that violators will receive a ticket
if stopped for not using a safety restraint. The fine for such violations
is up to $50 plus a $35 surcharge. The fine does not increase for repeat
offenders. If a motorist is stopped for having a person less than 16 years
old unrestrained, the fine is up to $100 plus the surcharge, plus 3 points
on their license. According to state law, motorists can be stopped in New
York by a police officer for not wearing their seatbelt; another violation
is not necessary to make the stop first.
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