Nevada law officers look for motorists not wearing seat belts in 'click it or ticket' safety campaign
Troopers with the Nevada State Police Highway Patrol and other Nevada law enforcement agencies participating in the Joining Forces program will be increasing seat belt enforcement efforts throughout the state.
Several of the most recent crashes in the months of April and May have involved motorists who were not wearing safety belts. Some of those unrestrained motorists were ejected and died.
"People are dying in Nevada in 2022 from being unrestrained," said Nevada State Police Trooper Charles Caster. "Recently we've had several fatalities in the last few weeks where people have died because they weren't wearing their safety belts."
While law enforcement continues to conduct traffic stops daily for a multitude of violations, the focus from May 16 through May 30, 2022 will be on “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement.
Motorists cannot be stopped for not wearing a safety belt, Caster explained. However when a motorist is stopped for a traffic infraction such as speeding, and they've also been observed not wearing a safety belt, they will get a ticket, he said.
"Buckling up is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash," said Caster.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 10,441 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in the United States in 2019.
Seat belts are the best defense against impaired, aggressive, and distracted drivers. Wearing your seat belt properly and being buckled up during a crash helps keep you safe and secure inside your vehicle.
Every year, the Nevada State Police investigates numerous fatal crashes or crashes that result in life-altering injuries due to seat belts being worn improperly or not at all.
These tragic crashes and subsequent losses of life are what the Nevada State Police is trying to prevent through enforcement and education, said Caster.
"Seat belts save lives and everyone — front seat and back, child and adult — needs to remember to buckle up — every trip, every time," he said.