FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL PARTICIPATES IN NATIONWIDE CLICK IT OR TICKET CAMPAIGN

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – One of the easiest things motorists can do to protect themselves in a crash is to fasten their safety belts. That is the message the Florida Highway Patrol is delivering to motorists who defy Florida’s safety belt law and neglect to buckle up. On Nov. 21 - 30, local troopers will join law enforcement agencies around the state in the Click It or Ticket campaign aimed at targeting unrestrained motorists and their passengers.

“Our message is simple. If you fail to buckle up, then expect a ticket,” said Major Timothy Ashley, commander of FHP’s Troop H, which covers eight counties in the Big Bend area. “The hard working men and women of the Florida Highway Patrol will be diligent in enforcing our safety belt law. Our state troopers are committed to making a difference through education and enforcement.”

Florida’s law requires all drivers and adult occupants in the front seat of a vehicle to fasten their safety belt. Occupants under the age of 18, regardless of where they sit in a vehicle, also must buckle up. Safety belts have long been proven to save lives and reduce injuries when worn properly during a vehicle crash. Motorists cited for failure to buckle up face a non-moving violation that carries a $30 base fine, plus court costs if convicted.

Florida achieved a record high this year when the safety belt usage rate climbed to reach 87.4 percent, following the May 24 - June 6 Click It or Ticket campaign. For additional details and statistics on the Sunshine State’s 2010 safety belt usage, to include county statistics, visit the Florida Department of Transportation’s website at http://www.dot.state.fl.us/safety/.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles provides highway safety and security through excellence in service, education and enforcement. The Department is leading the way to a safer Florida through the efficient and professional execution of its core mission: the issuance of driver licenses, vehicle tags and titles and operation of the Florida Highway Patrol. To learn more about DHSMV and the services offered, visit www.flhsmv.gov or follow @FDHSMV on Twitter.

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