2010 CLICK IT OR TICKET CAMPAIGN "BUCKLING DOWN ON THOSE WHO DON'T BUCKLE UP"

Law enforcement agencies from around the state will join other agencies across the country to participate in the National "Click It or Ticket" campaign. Officers will be out in force beginning May 24th and through June 4th enforcing traffic laws and making sure you are buckled up and driving sober. During Memorial day weekend last year 12 fatatlities occured on Iowa roadways.

Randy Hunefeld, sTEP Coordinator for the Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau advises that "Iowa's law enforcement community is serious about saving lives." Iowa currently has a 93% statewide seat belt daytime average which ranks in the tip 10 in the nation, however our nighttime seat belt average is only 39%. This year we are asking our law enforcement partners to continue their efforts in daytime enforcement but to take the fight to the night. Fifty percent of our fatalities occur in the daytime with 88% of the motoring public, while the other 50% occurs during the nighttime hours with only 12% of the motoring public.

During 2009, Iowa had 372 fatalities, in which 172 occurred between 6:00 p.m. and 5:59 a.m. Added enforcement efforts around the State like nighttime seat belt projects, safety checkpoints and added patrols appears to have been effective. Iowa law enforcement is committed to saving lives and they will enforce our seat belt law to do it.

Last year during the "Click it or Ticket" campaign, there were 245 agencies and 1,823 officers that participated recording 43,906 traffic violations ranging from operating while intoxicated to minor equipment violations and everything in between. Officers investigated 1,492 crashes and reported 2,064 motorist assists.

"Local motorists should be prepared for stepped up Click It or Ticket activities that will take place around the clock. If law enforcement finds you on the road unbuckled anytime or anywhere, you could receive a $93.75 ticket. If you buckle up, you'll save the cost of a ticket and may even save a life. For additional information contact