Jasper Police Officers Wrote 24 Citations During Last Month's Click-it-or-Ticket Campaign

FROM LOCAL SOURCES

JASPER -- The Police Department has released its Click-it-or-Ticket seat belt enforcement results.

During the 20-day enforcement period, JPD officers wrote a total of 24 citations for seat belt violations.

During this period, JPD made 84 traffic stops, issued 80 written warnings, wrote 34 traffic citations and made 2 O.W.I. arrests during the traffic-enforcement mobilization.

The Jasper Police Department wants to remind everyone in the vehicle, drivers and passengers, to wear a seat belt.

“Despite knowing that seat belts save lives, there are still people out there who refuse to buckle up,” said Assistant Chief Aaron Persohn. “This campaign is about reminding those drivers and passengers that seat belts need to be worn every trip, every time. We’ll continue to share this message until it ‘clicks’ for everyone.” 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2019, 90.7 percent of drivers and passengers across the nation were wearing seat belts. Additionally, NHTSA statistics show in 2017 alone, seat belts saved an estimated 14,955 lives nationwide. 

While Indiana’s seat belt usage rate continues to be above the national average at 94.6 percent, more than half of the people who were killed in motor vehicle crashes last year were not buckled up. Drivers under the age 34, particularly young male drivers, were more likely to be found not wearing a seat belt. 

“Indiana’s seat belt usage rate is good, but we can do better,” said Devon McDonald, Indiana Criminal Justice Institute Executive Director. “Thousands of lives could be saved each year if everyone buckled up. This campaign isn’t about statistics or the number of citations issued; it’s about saving lives.” 

For more than 20 years, Indiana has been participating in the annual Click It or Ticket enforcement effort, which was funded by NHTSA through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. This year, the Jasper Police Department was one of more than 200 participating Indiana law enforcement agencies. 

Although the zero-tolerance mobilization is over, daily seat belt enforcement continues. The department wants to remind everyone in the vehicle, drivers and passengers, to wear a seat belt.