Maricopa County 'Click It or Ticket' campaign enforces safety feature usage often overlooked

Phoenix, Arizona: The Maricopa County Governor's Office of Highway Safety is emphasizing the life-saving importance of wearing seatbelts as part of the 'Click It or Ticket' campaign.

During this two-week national initiative, local law enforcement agencies have joined forces to ensure stricter enforcement of seatbelt usage, even in states like Arizona, where seatbelt violations are typically considered secondary offenses.

J.M. 'Jesse' Torrez, head of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, highlighted the critical role of seatbelt use in reducing injuries and fatalities in car accidents. "Wearing a seatbelt can cut your chances in half for getting seriously hurt or killed in a crash," Torrez stated during an interview.

He stressed that while officers are usually unable to pull over drivers solely for not wearing a seatbelt, the 'Click It or Ticket' campaign allows them to do so, even without a primary violation.

The campaign has already led to a significant increase in citations. In 2022, 1,120 seatbelt citations were issued during the campaign, and this year, the number has risen to over 1,200. Beyond seatbelt violations, officers often uncover other issues, such as expired registrations, lack of insurance, or even contraband during these stops.

The 'Click It or Ticket' campaign runs through August 31.