Special Enforcement: Click It Or Ticket Seat Belt Campaign

Seaside Police Department (SPD) officers are dedicated to protecting the lives of the community members as well as those who visit and vacation here. During this year’s national Click it or Ticket seat belt campaign, which will take place January 30-February 12, The SPD and other law enforcement agencies across the state will be teaming up nationwide to enforce seat belt and car seat laws. In the state of Oregon, the maximum penalty for a seat belt violation is $115, ORS 811.210 Failure to Properly Use Safety Belts Class D traffic violation. 

According to NHTSA, in 2020, there were 10,893 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants killed in the United States. In that same year, 58% of passenger vehicle occupants killed at night (6pm-5:59am) were not wearing their seat belts. ODOT crash data for 2020 shows lack of safety belt or child restraint use was a factor in 32% or 100 of a total 311 motor vehicle occupant fatalities. In 2017 an Oregon law was passed requiring children to ride in a rear-facing safety seat until they are at least two years old. A child over age two must continue to ride in a car seat with harness or in a booster until they reach age eight or 4’ 9” in height and the adult belt fits them correctly. The 2017 law, which extends the rear-facing requirement from the previous age one to age two, will better protect the child’s head, neck, and spine from potential crash injuries. This is because a rear-facing seat spreads crash forces evenly across the seat and child’s body while also limiting forward or sideways motion of the head.

Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a “no-excuses” approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations both day and night. Officers working during this traffic grant will have discretion for all other violations.  

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact the SPD and ask for Corporal Brown.

For more information on the Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit NHTSA.gov/ciot.