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Click it or ticket, it's the law
SPRING TOWNSHIP, Pa.
Click it or ticket, it's not just a saying it is the law.
Officials say wearing your seat belt is no joke and that's why they're on the streets enforcing the law. They say the goal isn't to give out tickets; it's to save a life.
Officer Tony Roefaro from Spring Township police says he's seen more one deadly car crash in his time on the force and "nobody wants to lose a loved one." Many of those accidents could have been prevented by wearing a seat belt.
Police officers from across the state are cracking down on seat belt violations, targeting junior drivers. Roefaro says they're not trying to hide it. "We've warned students at local schools, they've been given pamphlets that explain buckle up."
PennDot is funding this detail. In Pennsylvania, seat belt laws are a secondary offense for adults, meaning officers can only fine a driver for not wearing a seat belt after they've been pulled over for a different violation. But for junior drivers, it's a zero-tolerance policy. "When you're young, you'll make most of your traffic mistakes. If we can collect that now hopefully you'll remember to wear that and that's what our goal is."
Police pulled over a woman, accused of running a stop sign. When officers got to her window they realized she wasn't wearing her seat belt. The driver, Brittany admits she didn't have it on. "Honestly mine kinda cuts into my neck so that's why I don't like to wear it."
Seatbelt tickets are only $10 but when you add in state taxes you're facing a $60 fine.
But that's much more affordable than the cost of a lifetime injury from a crash. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, that tab hit $70 billion in 2005.
Officers from across the state are participating in the campaign. It ends Sept. 21.