In The News

2019 CLICK IT OR TICKET CAMPAIGN

May 14, 2019

As the Memorial Day holiday approaches, Sheriff Schmidt is reminding all drivers of the importance of seat belt use. This annual campaign begins May 20th and ends June 2nd and is in conjunction with Memorial Day.

"During the Click It or Ticket campaign, we'll be working with other Bennington County officers to ensure the message gets out to drivers and passengers," said Lt. Dean. "Buckling up is the simplest thing you can do to limit injury or save your life during a crash. We see the results of not wearing a seat belt all the time. We see the loss of life. So often, it could have been prevented with the simple click of a seat belt."

In 2017, 55 percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed at night (6 p.m.-5:59 a.m.) were not wearing their seat belts. That's why one focus of the Click It or Ticket campaign is nighttime enforcement. Bennington County will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing traffic tickets day and night. In Vermont the seat belt violation is a secondary violation, and the fine is an additional $25.00 added to the primary violation. Almost twice as many males are killed in crashes as compared to females, with lower belt use rates, too.

"If the enforcement crackdown wakes people up to the dangers of unrestrained driving, we'll consider our mission to be a success," said Sheriff Schmit. "If you know a friend or a family member who does not buckle up when they drive, please ask them to consider changing their habits. Help us spread this lifesaving message before one more friend or family member is killed as a result of this senseless inaction. Seat belts save lives, and everyone-front seat and back, child and adult-needs to remember to buckle up-every trip, every time."

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Detective Sergeant, Lloyd Dean