Buckle up! If you're traveling for Memorial Day weekend in New York or New Jersey, you may want to think twice before deciding to forgo your seat belt, even as a passenger. Local police agencies across New York and New Jersey are cracking down on seat belt use during the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Click It or Ticket campaign which started on May 22, 2023. The campaign runs through June 4th and aims to reduce the number of fatal car accidents while increasing enforcement of seat belt laws by police nationwide.
As a driver, it’s also important to note that whenever police agencies run campaigns, the aren’t only on the lookout for the violations that are the subject of the particular blitz; they also pull over drivers for a whole range of other violations.
According to the NHTSA, in 2021, 26,325 passenger vehicle occupants were killed and about 50% of those killed were not buckled. Click It or Ticket reminds people of the importance of wearing a seat belt and the potentially deadly consequences of failing to do so. Buckling up is the most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash. Using a seat belt keeps you safe and secure in your vehicle upon impact. Failure to wear it could result in you being ejected from the car in the event of a crash. By remembering to fasten your seat belt, you reduce your risk of fatal injury by 45% and your risk of moderate to critical injury by 50%. These percentages are significant.
Police can lawfully ticket a driver for not wearing a seat belt even if no other traffic violation is committed. Moreover, in both New York and New Jersey, every passenger must wear a seat belt regardless of age or seat position. Failing to do so can result in fines per occupant, which can add up. In New Jersey, the penalty for a seat belt violation is $46. In New York, drivers and passengers can incur fines ranging from $25 to $100 per person.
Whether you have been issued a ticket for not wearing a seat belt, speeding, use of a cell phone while driving or any other traffic violation, call Rosenblum Law at 888-883-5529 for a free consultation about your matter. With our decades of experience handling these offenses, we know how to best fight your ticket to save you points, fines, and auto insurance increases.
