NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEBRASKA STATE PATROL
www.nsp.state.ne.us
Contact: Deb Collins 402-479-4985
May 19, 2008

Click It or Ticket Campaign Focus of
Memorial Day Holiday Enforcement

(Lincoln, NE)- Raising awareness of the need for motorists to buckle up is the focus of efforts by the Nebraska State Patrol over the first holiday of the summer travel season.   The Nebraska State Patrol will take part in the “Click It or Ticket” campaign, beginning today, Monday, May 19, 2008, through Sunday, June 1, 2008.  The special enforcement effort includes the Memorial Day holiday weekend.   “Click It or Ticket” is a nationwide campaign designed to raise awareness of the need to wear your safety belt every time you get into your vehicle.

“Each year dozens of motorists in Nebraska die in single vehicle rollover crashes,” said Colonel Bryan Tuma, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol.   “In most cases, those killed were not wearing their seat belt and often times were ejected from their vehicle.  Wearing your seat belt is proven to increase your odds of surviving a crash.  We hope all Nebraskans will take those odds and buckle-up.”

Statistics from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety show wearing your seat belt increases your odds of surviving a crash by up to 50 percent. 

Troopers and dispatchers with the Nebraska State Patrol will put in overtime hours as part of the “Click It or Ticket” special enforcement campaign, with special emphasis placed on the Memorial Day holiday time period which runs Thursday, May 22, 2008 through Monday, May 26.   The special enforcement effort is paid for thanks in part to a $ 25,000.00 grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety.

Nebraska’s seat belt law is a secondary law.  Drivers can be cited for this violation only if stopped for a separate violation.  Violating Nebraska’s seat belt law carries a $25.00 fine, for each offense.  

For more information about specific activities and special enforcement efforts contact the nearest State Patrol Troop Area office.

Troop A-Omaha (402)331-3333	Troop C-Grand Island (308)385-6000
Troop HQ-Lincoln (402)471-4545	Troop D-North Platte (308)535-8047
Troop B-Norfolk (402)370-3456	Troop E-Scottsbluff (308)632-1211

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