Announcement
Police Announce “Click It or Ticket” Campaign
By Marion Police Department
May 16, 2008, 16:52

The Marion Police Department has announced its’ continued involvement in the “Click It or Ticket” Campaign, in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Public Safety. The aim of this two week drive is to educate the motoring public on the importance of seat belt use and to encourage compliance with state law through enforcement.

The two week campaign begins on May 19th and continues through June 1st of 2008.

A 2007 observational seat belt study conducted in Ohio showed a compliance rate of about 82 percent. This same study showed the lowest compliance amongst both drivers and passengers between the ages of 15 and 25. Through stringent enforcement practice, this campaign aims to raise the compliance rate to 85 percent.

“Even if you are a safe driver, you cannot control the actions of other motorist on the roadway”, stated Lt. B.J. Gruber of the Marion Police Department. “This is why it is important for everyone in every car on every road to wear their safety restraints every time.”

The 2008 detail continues to emphasize seatbelt compliance Day and Night. There were 482 fatalities in Ohio last year where drivers and passengers were unbelted in a crash. In 2006, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration numbers revealed 15,046 vehicle occupants died between the hours of 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m. as a result of a crash, and 64 percent of those persons were not wearing seatbelts. “Darkness and a higher rate of impaired drivers can make evening driving even more dangerous” stated Gruber “and the need for safety restraints does not go away when the sun goes down.”

The Marion Police Department assisted with the placement of a crashed vehicle at the Marion Seventh Day Adventist Church at the corners of Windsor and Bellefontaine Avenue. Church officials wished to bring drunk driving to the attention of students during this prom season, but Marion P.D. will also use this as a tool to advertise the importance of seat belt use. Banners and posters will also be displayed prominently on MPD patrol vehicles, and be posted strategically throughout the city of Marion to promote this cause. Special attention will be given to Marion Harding High School for the purpose of advertising this program, and getting the school age drivers on board with importance of seatbelt use.

“Our officers will be paying particular attention to safety belt violations during this mobilization and employing a “zero tolerance” enforcement strategy on all violators” stated Gruber. “Officers will also utilize a strict enforcement practice for other violations that commonly contribute to crashes; such as speed and traffic signal violations” added Gruber.

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