News

May 18, 2004
Campaign Encourages Buckling Up
'Click It or Ticket' Shown to Increase Belt Use

By Kelly Jasper
Daily News-Record

Patrols will be increased and checkpoints possibly established for two weeks as local law enforcement agencies encourage drivers to use their seat belts.

The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office announced participation in the national campaign Click It or Ticket on Monday.

More than 280 agencies in the state, including the Harrisonburg Police Department and several Rockingham town police departments, will participate.

The campaign starts May 24 and runs through the Memorial Day weekend into the first week of June.

Wear Seat Belts
“Because of the upcoming holiday and summer season, the week has been adopted nationally to educate citizens,” said Sgt. Felicia Glick of the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office. “Seat-belt usage has gone up in the past two years since the county and surrounding areas have been a part of the campaign.”

By increasing patrols, law enforcement aims to raise Virginia’s safety belt compliance rate to 77 percent, up from its current 73.5 percent, Glick said.

The campaign is used in 18 other states and the District of Columbia, some of which show an increase in safety belt usage of more than 10 percent, according to Click It or Ticket statistics.

“We have extra manpower in these weeks,” she said. The campaign ends June 6, but Glick added that citizens should always be cautious and wear their safety belt.

Don Allen, of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, spoke on the importance of safety belt usage and the campaign.

“The whole idea, without question, is to save lives,” he said. “If you’re not wearing a seat belt, we’ll issue a summons.”

Glick added that while an individual in Virginia cannot be pulled over and ticketed for not using a safety belt, a summons can be issued in conjunction with another violation.

“We ask that there will be zero tolerance,” she said. “If you’re not speeding and following the law and wearing a belt, you’ll be just fine.”

Police say a decrease in injuries and fatalities resulting from traffic accidents shows that strict enforcement has been effective.

Saved By The Belt
One officer said he was particularly fortunate to be wearing a seat belt when he wrecked in March.
“It’s pretty humbling,” said Cpl. Gary Fielding of the sheriff’s office.

Fielding received a “Saved by the Belt” award, one of 18 given to civilians and officers in Virginia this year for wearing a safety belt during a car wreck.

Cpl. Andy Muncy, the officer who investigated Fielding’s wreck, nominated him for the award.
Fielding’s vehicle was pushed 20 to 30 feet onto a sidewalk after being struck at 45 mph on the passenger side.

“Due to the fact that he had a seat belt on during the accident ... he did not need any medical attention,” Muncy said, adding that without a safety belt, Fielding probably would have been thrown from the vehicle.

Even though Fielding was not on duty during the accident, he directed traffic around the crash, Muncy said.
“He just wants to keep going,” he said. “That’s just the way he is.”

Glick said it’s not unusual for officers to wear safety belts, even though they are not required by law to wear them while on patrol.

“But we, like everybody we aim to reach these upcoming weeks, always wear them,” she said. “It’s safest, plain and simple.”

Copyright 2004 Daily News-Record. Contact Kelly Jasper at (540) 574-6200 or intern@dnronline.com.