Click it or Ticket Enforcement

The Columbia Borough Police Department will participate in a national “Click It or Ticket” (CIOT) Seat Belt Enforcement initiative from May 14, through June 3, 2018.

The effort will focus largely on nighttime enforcement, between the hours of 9:00 PM and 4:00 AM using Traffic Enforcement Zones and Roving Patrols. Traffic Enforcement Zones combine stationary enforcement and checkpoint tactics on roadways with high numbers of unbuckled crashes. Citations will be issued to motorists who are caught unbuckled or transporting unrestrained children. 

According to PennDOT data there were 14,992 unrestrained crashes that resulted in 408 fatalities in 2016.

Motorists are reminded that Pennsylvania’s primary seat-belt law requires drivers and passengers under 18 years old to buckle up, and children under the age of 4 must be properly restrained in an approved child safety seat. 

Children ages 4 to 8 must be restrained in an appropriate booster seat. A new law that went into effect August 2016 requires a child under 2 years of age be securely fastened in a rear-facing child passenger restraint system, which is to be used until the child outgrows the maximum weight and limits designated by the manufacturer.  In addition, children ages 8 to 18 must be wearing a seat belt when riding anywhere in the vehicle.

Also, drivers and front-seat passengers 18 years-old or older are required to buckle up.  If motorists are stopped for a traffic violation and are not wearing their seat belt, they can receive a second ticket and second fine

The effort which includes 350 Pennsylvania municipal agencies supplements the national “Click It or Ticket” Mobilization which runs through June 3, 2018.  As part of the initiative, PennDOT distributes federal enforcement funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.


For more information on seat belt safety, visit penndot.gov/safety

  • Approximately 350 Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA) will participate in this mobilization, from May 14 – June 3, 2018.

  • The goal of the CIOT Seat Belt Mobilization is to maximize both day and nighttime seat belt use compliance by focusing on roadways with high unbelted crashes, injuries and deaths by initiating a combination of enforcement and public awareness activities.  Our message is simple; Law enforcement will be writing Seat Belt tickets to save lives, so Buckle Up Day or Night.

  • The LEAs invited to participate in the mobilization were based on a very detailed crash data selection process.  The 350 participating agencies represent 66% on the states Unrestrained Occupant Fatalities and 63% of all Unbelted Injury and Fatal Crashes.

  • Participating LEAs will be required to schedule 50% of their enforcement details at night from 9PM hours to 4AM for this 21-day Mobilization.  High Visibility Enforcement (HVE) operations will occur day and night on roadways to address low seat-belt use, especially at night.

  • Enforcement strategies will include Traffic Enforcement Zones and Roving Patrols to identify unrestrained occupants on high unbelted crash roadways, and high visibility locations utilizing an enforcement only and “Zero Tolerance” philosophy.

  • Many participating schools will also host “Survival 101” presentations.  “Survival 101” is a police-driven curriculum designed to encourage appropriate decision making among middle and high school students. Developed by PennDOT’s Buckle Up PA Project, “Survival 101” provides safety information on seat belts, distracted driving and other topics using hard-hitting content.

  • The program, “16 Minutes” will also be offered at participating schools. It is a police-driven curriculum for high school students in which highway safety issues are explored and discussed with the students. Developed by PennDOT’s Buckle Up PA Project (BUPA), “16 Minutes” provides information on teen driving experience, driver distraction and more.

  • The 2018 CIOT Seat Belt Mobilization plan also includes a coordinated effort to partner with the State’s Impaired Driving Program (IDP).  BUPA grantees will work with their county’s DUI Project to coordinate joint nighttime SB and Impaired Driving operations.

By the numbers:

  • 129,395 crashes occurred in Pennsylvania in 2016 resulting in 1,188 fatalities.
    • 408 unbelted occupant fatalities
    • 257 belted occupant fatalities
    • 127 belt use unknown

  • Seat belts were not worn by over 50% percent of people killed in occupant-related traffic crashes.  The percentage rises significantly at night.

  • Pennsylvania’s seat belt usage rate was 86.3 percent in 2017 and the Teen usage rate is believed to be lower.

Teen Driver Law

  • Act 81, which went into effect Dec. 27, 2011, ushered in changes to young driver licensing and passenger requirements.

  • As of Dec. 27, 2011, for the first six months after receiving their junior driver’s license, a driver is not permitted to have more than one passenger under the age of 18 who is not an immediate family member (brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister of the junior driver, adopted or foster children living in the same household as the junior driver) in their vehicle unless they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

  • If they have not been convicted of a driving violation or been partially or fully responsible for a reportable crash after six months, they may have up to three passengers under the age of 18 who are not immediate family members without a parent or legal guardian present. If they have any convictions or are partially or fully responsible for a reportable crash while a junior driver, they are once again restricted to one passenger.

  • Drivers and occupants in a vehicle who are under the age of 18 must wear a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt, and children under the age of eight must be securely fastened in a child restraint system.

  • Failure to comply with the new law’s seat belt provisions is a primary offense, meaning that a driver can be pulled over and cited solely for that violation.

  • The law refers to Sections 1503 (C) and 1505 (E) for the Graduated Driver Licensing changes, Section 3753 for the new reports, and Section 4581 (A) and (B) for the seat belt changes. 

Teen Talking Points:

  • Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 16-24 year olds.

  • Drivers and occupants in a vehicle who are under the age of 18 must wear a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt, and children under the age of eight must be securely fastened in a child restraint system.

  • Failure to comply with the new law’s seat belt provisions is a primary offense, meaning that a driver can be pulled over and cited solely for that violation.

Texting and Driving:

  • Pennsylvania’s anti-texting law (Act 98), which became effective March 8, 2012, prohibits, as a primary offense, any driver from using an Interactive Wireless Communications Device (IWCD) to send, read or write a text-based communication while his or her vehicle is in motion.

  • The law defines an IWCD as a wireless phone, personal digital assistant, smart phone, portable or mobile computer or similar devices that can be used for texting, instant messaging, emailing or browsing the Internet.

  • The law defines a text-based communication as a text message, instant message, email or other written communication composed or received on an IWCD.

  • The penalty is a summary offense with a $50 fine, plus court costs and other fees.

Created May 14, 2018 @ 9:29 AM