By Chadron Police Department
Chadron, NE — During the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, from November 22nd to November 26th, the Chadron Police Department participated in the annual Click It or Ticket high-visibility seat belt awareness campaign, writing 2 citations for seat belt violations in the process. A total of 8 citations were issued for other violations and 6 people were arrested for the following offenses; arrest on a warrant and new charges for driving revoked; driving revoked and protection order violation; driving revoked; a warrant; driving under the influence of drugs; assault and obstruction of a peace officer. All driving under revocation charges were felony arrests, due to the driver’s licenses being suspended due to DUI.
A total of 46 traffic stops were conducted during the grant time period. The campaign, which coincided with one of the busiest holiday weekends of the year, was twofold: to combine increased awareness and a zero-tolerance policy on seat belt non-use, and to provide effective communication to drivers on the importance of buckling up.
“We issue tickets to remind drivers and passengers that seat belt use isn’t a suggestion, it’s the law,” said Sgt. Stolley. “To that end, we felt that this year’s campaign was successful, and I think we got people’s attention by using highly visible enforcement methods. Our goal is a safe community with safe drivers.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in 2021 (6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 24, to 5:59 a.m. on Monday, November 29), there were 361 passenger vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes across the nation. Half (50%) were unrestrained. Not wearing a seat belt proved to be deadly at any time of the day during the holiday weekend: 52% of those killed in nighttime crashes were unbuckled, and 46% of those killed in daytime crashes also were unbuckled. These deaths represent needless tragedies for families across America and may have been prevented with the simple click of a seat belt.
“Seat belts save lives, period,” said Sgt. Stolley. “We’ll continue working to spread the message about the importance of seat belt safety, over the holidays, and every day,” she said.
For more information about traveling safely this Thanksgiving, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/seat-belts.