Law enforcement agencies throughout the state issued a total of 69,832 tickets for vehicle and traffic law violations, including 12,573 tickets for seat belt and child restraint violations during the “Buckle Up New York, Click it or Ticket” campaign, which ran from May 24 to June 6. The statewide campaign, supported by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC), raises awareness about the importance of wearing seat belts.
“I applaud all law enforcement across the state for their commitment to keeping drivers and passengers safe on our roads,” said Mark J.F. Schroeder, Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles and GTSC Chair. “New York has been a national leader with its seat belt laws and continues to lead the nation in seat belt compliance, but we can do better. GTSC will continue to raise awareness about this vital traffic safety issue.”
Throughout the mobilization, state and local law enforcement agencies used marked and unmarked vehicles, checkpoints, and roving details to patrol for unbelted occupants. Law enforcement also made sure children were properly restrained.
Tickets were issued for a variety of violations, including seatbelt (12,573), speeding (13,351), distracted driving (3,266), impaired driving (1,552), Move Over Law (402), and other violations (36,688).
As part of its ongoing effort to make sure drivers and passengers are safe, GTSC’s Child Passenger Safety Program supports training on how to properly install child safety restraints. Through this program, law enforcement and various community safety partners offer free child car seat inspections by certified child passenger safety technicians year-round. Information for parents and caregivers is available at trafficsafety.ny.gov. Additionally, NHTSA offers guidance on its website for pregnant women on how to properly wear a seat belt while expecting.
In 1984, New York was the first state in the nation to pass legislation requiring drivers and front-seat passengers to use seat belts. Governor Cuomo signed legislation last year to strengthen the state’s seat belt laws to better protect everyone on New York’s roadways. As of November 1, 2020, everyone in passenger vehicles, regardless of where they sit, needs to wear a seat belt or be properly restrained in a child safety seat. In New York, police can lawfully ticket motorists for not wearing a seat belt even if they are not committing any other traffic infractions.
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