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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4, 2013

Bluffton Police Department Completes Click It or Ticket Mobilization to Save Lives and Boost Seat Belt Use

Bluffton, IN. - After a 17-day police mobilization, the 2013 Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement campaign in Bluffton comes to an end as Deputy Chief Nathan Huss today announced that 120 seat belt tickets were issued during the annual Memorial Day effort.

“The Click it or Ticket mobilization may be over in Bluffton, but that is no excuse to stop using your seat belt,” said Huss. “Our law enforcement officers are out all year long. If you or your passengers are caught not wearing a seat belt at any time, day or night, you will be cited for the safety violation.”


According to the latest preliminary statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 86 percent of passenger vehicle occupants across the nation in 2012 were wearing seat belts – a record high rate.

High-visibility enforcement such as the Click It or Ticket mobilization is credited with increasing the national seat belt usage rate from 58 percent in 1994, to the estimated observed usage rate of 86 percent in 2012. Belt use saves thousands of lives across America each year. NHTSA statistics show that in 2011 alone, seat belts saved an estimated 11,949 lives nationwide.

“The Bluffton Police Department is proud to have supported the 2013 Click It or Ticket mobilization – a highly visible national enforcement crackdown created to save more lives on our roadways,” said Huss.

“Both during day and also at night, our stepped-up enforcement showed Bluffton how important it really is for everyone to always buckle up every trip, every time. Don’t forget to buckle up and please encourage those around you to always do the same.”

“Click It or Ticket” is an annual enforcement effort that is supported by federal Highway Safety funding awarded to more than 250 Indiana law enforcement agencies from ICJI’s Traffic Safety division. Indiana’s enforcement mobilization is reinforced by paid, statewide advertising, combined with targeted public outreach efforts aimed at promoting the life-saving benefits of regular seat belt use to all motorists.



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