Click It or Ticket leads to 6,550 seat belt citations

TALLAHASSEE --Florida Highway Patrol troopers issued 6,550 seat belt citations across the state during its Click It or Ticket campaign.

From March 1 through 15, FHP participated in the campaign to focused on drivers not wearing safety belts.

Overall, troopers issued 36,858 traffic citations during the 15-day period, including 311 DUI arrests and more than 10,000 speeding tickets. In Manatee County, 120 seat belt tickets were handed out, according to Lt. Chris Miller.

Florida implemented the Dori Slosberg and Katie Marchetti Safety Belt Law on June 30, 2009, which allows law enforcement officers to stop and cite motorists who violate the law.

The law allows for the primary enforcement of Florida’s safety belt requirements, which the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates will save 124 lives and prevent more than 1,700 serious injuries in Florida annually.

“We are committed to educating motorists and enforcing Florida’s Safety Belt Law to ensure they buckle up,” said Czernis. “The Florida Highway Patrol will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners on such initiatives to pave the way to a safer Florida. The dedicated service and commitment to highway safety that our troopers exhibit makes a difference.”