MADISON, WI (WSAU) – The Wisconsin State Patrol and most local police departments are starting their ‘Click-It-Or-Ticket’ enforcement effort on Monday.
It runs through June 5.
State Patrol Superintendent Anthony Burrell says, “Not wearing a seat belt can have tragic consequences. We are seeing a rise in deadly crashes across the country. Click It or Ticket is a critical awareness campaign to remind every Wisconsinite why it’s so important to always buckle up.”
Since 2009 Wisconsin is a primary enforcement state, meaning you can be pulled over just for not being buckled. When the state’s seatbelt law was first enacted, the initial traffic stop needed to be for some other reason.
88% of Wisconsin drivers use seatbelts, slightly below the national average of 90%. Yet seatbelts are not used in about half of all fatal crashes.
“Our goal with Click It or Ticket is to save lives, not just hand out tickets,” Burrell said. “Ultimately, we would rather write a warning or citation than make a death notification.”
