For the City Times

WISCONSIN RAPIDS — 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 22 to June 4.

“Whether you’re a driver, or a passenger, wearing a safety belt is the single most important step you can take to protect yourself every time you travel,” said Sergeant Mike Potocki. “During the Click it or Ticket mobilization and throughout the year, our goal is not to write citations. Through enforcement and education, we want to prevent injuries and deaths by encouraging everyone to buckle up every day, every trip.”

Although the state’s safety belt rate of 88.4 percent is the highest ever, nearly half of the drivers and passengers killed in Wisconsin traffic crashes last year were not wearing safety belts. In addition, last year there were over 68,500 convictions for failure to fasten a seat belt.

“By buckling up, you’re protecting yourself from being ejected during a crash or thrown around violently inside a vehicle,” said Potocki. “For our officers, ‘Click it or Ticket’ is more than a slogan. It’s about preventing injuries and saving lives.”