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Paris residents warned to buckle up or pay up
The Paris News
Published May 15, 2009
With Memorial Day weekend and the summer driving season on the horizon, it’s more important than ever for Texans to keep themselves and each other safe on the road.
That’s why the City of Paris Police Department is joining forces with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and local law enforcement agencies to ticket drivers and passengers who aren’t wearing their safety belts during this year’s Click It or Ticket (CIOT) campaign. The enforcement period begins Monday and continues through May 31.
A press conference kicked off the event Thursday at Love Civic Center. Representatives from the City of Paris Police Department, City of Reno Police Department, Lamar County Sherriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety attended.
“We have a zero tolerance for not using your safety belts here in the state of Texas,” said Trooper Greg Wilson with the Texas Department of Public Safety, “It is a lot cheaper to put your safety belt on, than to be caught without it.”
“Many people don’t realize they can actually be pulled over and fined for not obeying safety belt laws,” said Jolita Norris, Traffic Safety specialist for TxDOT’s Paris District. “We hope the potential consequence of being ticketed will remind people to buckle up and to make buckling up a habit.”
For the past seven years, TxDOT has worked with local law enforcement agencies to convince more Texans to take their safety into their own hands by buckling up. This year, TxDOT continues the effort, but with special emphasis on 16–20 year-olds, who are less likely than the general population to wear safety belts regularly. Young people across the state are taking part in special school-based events to raise safety belt awareness.
“The leading cause of death for children ages 2-14 is traffic accidents, so please buckle your children up,” Lamar County Chief Deputy Scott Cass said.
“Fewer than 50 percent of children under 18 buckle up or they buckle up improperly,” Norris added.
In 2008, a study by the Texas Transportation Institute revealed that 91.2 percent of Texans were buckling up. This year, TxDOT hopes to increase safety belt compliance to 93.25 percent.
A properly fastened safety belt is the best way to avoid death or serious injury in a vehicle crash. Lap belts should fit snugly across the hips, not over the stomach. Shoulder belts go over the shoulder and across the center of the chest.
Drivers and passengers can be ticketed, and fines range from $25 to $200, plus court costs. Children younger than 17 years old must wear a safety belt or ride in a child safety seat, whether they are in the front or back seat. Children younger than 5 years old and less than 36 inches tall must ride in a child safety seat.
Paris PD was awarded a CIOT grant to increase enforcement through an overtime Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) that places primary emphasis on increasing the number of citations for non-use of occupant restraints during the peak holiday traffic.
“Paris PD has sincere appreciation for TxDOT and the grant funding from the department, interim Police Chief Bob Hundley said. “We will work hard to enforce safety belt laws here in the City of Paris.”
For Click It or Ticket campaign details, visit texasclickitorticket.com.
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