‘Click It or Ticket’ Campaign Begins

The National “Click It or Ticket” campaign officially kicked off on Monday.

Each year, the campaign’s enforcement period runs through Memorial Day weekend. In 2016, the dates are May 23 through June 5.

Police will increase law enforcement of seat belt and child restraint laws.

As of May 20, 2013, drivers became responsible for all occupants of their vehicles. If a driver is stopped and any passengers are caught not using a seat belt, car seat, or booster seat, regardless of where in the car they are sitting, the driver will be cited.

Children under the age of four are required to be restrained in a child safety seat. Children up to seven are required to be in a booster seat.

Drivers with a child not in a child restraint or booster seat are required to go to court and face a fine of $100 to $500. The driver will also be required to attend a mandatory four-hour class.

The Hawai’i Police Department says that national statistics have shown that the use of seat belts is the single most effective step drivers and passengers can take to protect themselves in a traffic crash.

According to statistics, an estimated 12,802 lives were saved by seat belt use in 2014, and over 63,000 lives were estimated to be saved from 2010 to 2014.