Not wearing a seat belt is dangerous and carries a $116 fine for violators caught by law enforcement officers in Florida.
The annual Click It or Ticket campaign kicked off May 24 and runs through June 6.
Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said May 25 that he is a strong proponent of seat belt use and encourages officers in the department to enforce the law throughout the year.
The law requires seat belts be worn by all front-seat passengers and children in a vehicle’s back seat, but Tokajer said even adults should buckle up in the back seat.
“Adults can be hurt just as bad as children in the back seat,” Tokajer said.
And seat belt use isn’t limited to automobiles, the chief said. They must be worn by golf cart passengers, regardless of age or position in the vehicle.
In fact, Tokajer said a Holmes Beach ordinance requires street-legal golf carts have operational seat belts for all seats.
Bradenton Beach police Detective Sgt. Lenard Diaz and Manatee County Sheriff’s Deputy Sgt. Brett Getman of the Anna Maria substation said May 25 that their departments also enforce seat belt use throughout the year, not just during the campaign.
The campaign is part of a national effort coordinated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and begun in 2003. Click It or Ticket is “a proven and effective way to save lives across the United States,” according to the Florida Department of Transportation’s website, fdot.gov.
The campaign began with a media and advertising blitz reminding motorists of the law.
The “enforcement mobilization” portion of the campaign involves law enforcement officers stepping up efforts on the road.
“We want people to be safe,” Tokajer said.