"Click-it or Ticket" campaign begins May 18

Photo by Clark Pierce Patrolman Joseph Robinson of NAS Jacksonville Police Department issues a citation to a motorist who neglected to wear his seatbelt while driving on base.

Even though we periodically conduct safety belt inspections on base, the average is five to six percent of our base personnel are still not wearing seatbelts while operating their vehicles on station. Failure to buckle up by drivers and passengers allows law enforcement officers to conduct a primary traffic stop and issue a traffic citation for the infraction. Florida law requires that all front seat occupants must utilize safety restraints (seatbelts). Children between the ages of 4 and 17 years of age must be secured in a safety vehicle restraint. Children from birth to age 3 must be secured in an approved child restraint seat.

Although every military installation, including NAS Jacksonville, enforces the seatbelt law daily, during the "Click-it or Ticket" campaign patrol officers will man high-traffic areas and specifically target people who are not buckled up. The NAS Jacksonville Police Department upholds a "zero tolerance" policy for failure to use vehicle safety restraints. According to the National Center for Health Statistics and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, motor vehicle crashes are the single largest cause of unintentional injury for ages one through 65, accounting for approximately 42,643 injuries annually. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), reported seatbelt use in 2007 stood at 82 percent, a slight gain from 81 percent in 2006.

"The purpose of this campaign is to educate and to heighten awareness for the importance of wearing seatbelts. Remember that 'Seatbelts Save Lives' - and hopefully, we can save someone by reminding them to buckle up," said NAS Jacksonville Police Capt. James Oswald, department safety officer.

"As of April 15, we've had 129 motor vehicle accidents on base, with 11 of those accidents resulting in injuries, including two motor vehicle fatalities. At this rate we'll exceed the total accidents reported last year," added Oswald.

When someone is injured in traffic accidents on base, it impacts more than just the individuals involved - there is also a loss of work production, monetary impact to the government and the individual, installation support capability and Navy readiness.

Buckling up makes sense, because if you are issued a ticket on base, it will cost you four points against your base driving record. You are also required to attend an approved driver improvement course. Failure to comply may result in a suspension of your base driving privileges. Additionally, the Florida Highway Patrol and Jacksonville Sheriff's Office state that tickets received off station for not wearing a seatbelt are costly. Violators in Duval County pay $56.50. In Clay County, a ticket will cost you $71.50 -and both will impact your insurance rate. Oswald urges motorists to, "Be smart and buckle up."