WSU Police Participating In Click It or Ticket Effort

PULLMAN, Wash. – Through Sept. 25, the Washington State University Police Department will be participating in the Click It or Ticket campaign, putting increased patrols on the road seeking violators of the state’s mandatory seat belt law.

The local effort is part of a statewide initiative aimed at increasing seat belt use. The fine for not wearing a seatbelt in Washington is $101.

WSU Police Chief Steve Hansen said, “We think it is important to take part in this statewide effort. Seatbelt use saves lives and the Click It or Ticket campaign has been successful in encouraging more people to buckle up.”

According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, studies show that that a person wearing a seatbelt has a 70 percent better chance of surviving a crash than a non-belted person. Last year in Washington, 43 percent of people who died in fatal crashes were not wearing their seatbelts.

Before a May/June 2003 Click It or Ticket campaign statewide, police agencies observed 90.6 percent seat belt use rate.  After the enforcement campaign, surveys showed the rate had risen to  95 percent.