For the City Times

The Wisconsin Rapids Police Department will join hundreds of other law enforcement agencies throughout Wisconsin for the annual “Click it or Ticket” safety belt enforcement campaign from May 23 to Jun. 5.

“We are serious about safety belt enforcement because far too many unbuckled drivers and passengers are killed or injured in traffic crashes,” says Sergeant Mike Potocki. “During the Click It or Ticket mobilization throughout the year, our goal is not to write more tickets. Through enforcement and education, were determined to get people to buckle up every time they drive or ride in a vehicle.”

Although the state’s safety belt use rate of 88 percent is the highest ever, approximately half of the drivers and passengers killed in Wisconsin traffic crashes last year were not wearing safety belts. In addition, last year there were nearly 55,000 convictions for failure to fasten a safety belt.

“No matter if it’s day or night, or a short trip or a long journey, everyone in a vehicle must buckle up. Passengers needs to wear a safety belt in the rear seats, as well as the front seats. Buckling up is the best possible protection against being ejected from a vehicle during a crash or thrown around violently inside it and possibly hitting another person in the vehicle with massive force,” Potocki said. “That’s why Click it or Ticket is more than a slogan to our officers — it really is a life saving effort.”