More Than 60 Ticketed In Westfield's 'Targeted Enforcement'

WESTFIELD, NJ - As spring was winding down enhanced enforcement season ramped up as law enforcement officers in Westfield joined 111 New Jersey towns to make sure drivers and passengers are doing what they need to do to protect themselves.

From May 20 through June 2, New Jersey officers will be out in full force as part of the annual "Click It or Ticket" enforcement mobilization to emphasize the value of seat belts.

In Westfield, $5,500 dollars was allocated.

"Click It or Ticket is a high-visibility law enforcement effort that gives people even more of a reason to buckle up – the increased threat of a traffic ticket," Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro said. "Most people do buckle up for safety, but for some people, it is only the threat of a ticket that prompts them to put on a seat belt."

Thirteen Westfield officers participated in the targeted enforcement campaign. Some of the summons issued are listed below:

• Failure to wear seatbelt: 45
• Obstructing Passage of Other Vehicle: 7
• Driving with a Suspended License or Registration: 5
• Failure to Signal: 3
• Use of Handheld Wireless Telephone: 3
• Speeding: 3

In addition to the above summons, two people were arrested on outstanding warrants and one person was arrested for possession of drugs, police said.

Last year, 357 – 73 percent – of the 491 police agencies in New Jersey participated in the Click It or Ticket mobilization. The agencies issued a total 19,659 seat belt citations, up from 17,792 issued during the 2017 mobilization.

In addition to seat belt citations, police officers wrote 534 child restraint and 4,437 speeding citations, and made 661 DWI arrests, state officials said.

Now in its 15th year, New Jersey's Click It or Ticket campaign uses high visibility seat belt checkpoints and saturation patrols, in combination with local and national publicity efforts, to reinforce the message that motorist should buckle up during every trip.

Crash statistics show that from 2013 through 2017, seat belt use saved more than 69,000 lives nationally, more than 1,000 of them In New Jersey, according to state officials.

Experts say wearing a seatbelt reduces a vehicle occupant's risk of fatal injury by 45 percent and critical injury by 50 percent.

"Despite many recent advancements in auto safety technology like crash avoidance and lane departure warnings, there is no device more effective in protecting drivers and passengers from injury and death than seat belts," said Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal. "Our law enforcement officers see firsthand the consequences of not buckling up. Click It or Ticket is an opportunity for them to educate the public to make a difference and save lives."

State traffic experts credit the successful compliance rate – a record high for New Jersey – to the education and enforcement efforts of annual Click It or Ticket campaigns.

However, not all New Jersey motorists are buckling up equally. The NHTSA survey found that a mere 39 percent of adults riding in rear seats used seat belts.

"For whatever reason there seems to be a disconnect with people feeling they don't need to buckle up when riding as passengers in rear seats, and this is a concern," said Eric Heitmann, director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety. "This year, our Click It or Ticket campaign will promote seat belt usage in all seating positions in the vehicle, both front and rear seats. History has shown us that when it comes to seatbelt usage, habits can be changed over time. Buckling up in the back seat is an important habit that will save lives."

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