Manatee, Sarasota law agencies join in statewide 'Click it or Ticket' drive

MANATEE -- Local law enforcement agencies joined the statewide Click it or Ticket campaign Tuesday cracking down on drivers and passengers not wearing seat belts.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration research shows the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants is reduced by 45 percent when lap or shoulder seat belts are used, and risk of moderate to critical injury is reduced by 50 percent.

In addition to the Florida Highway Patrol, local agencies participating include the Manatee and Sarasota county sheriff's offices and the Bradenton, Palmetto and Sarasota police departments.

"It's the Thanksgiving season and we are trying to get some awareness out there for people to buckle up," sheriff's office spokesman Dave Bristow said. "Every holiday season you get a crash where people don't buckle up and get hurt."

With Thanksgiving holiday one of the busiest travel times in the year, there are just so many people on the road everywhere, he added. AAA estimates nearly 48 million travelers will hit the road this holiday.

Florida law requires all drivers and front-seat passengers to wear seat belts and all passengers under the age of 18, regardless where they are sitting, to wear a safety belt. Children under age 4 must be in a child safety seat and children ages 4 and 5 must wear use a child safety seat or booster set.

A citation for not wearing a seat belt costs $116.

In a news release, the Sarasota Police Department said patrol officers will also look for impaired or intoxicated drivers, aggressive drivers, speeders, texting and other traffic violations.

"If you're driving to the grocery store, a friend's house a mile away or your grandparents house across the country, please buckle up this Thanksgiving and every time you're on the road," said Sarasota Police Patrol Capt. Kevin Stiff in the release. "Drivers who fail to heed the warning are taking too big of a risk, a hefty fine or worse: dying in a crash."

Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can follow her on Twitter@JDeLeon1012.

This story was originally published November 17, 2015 at 5:48 PM with the headline "Manatee, Sarasota law agencies join in statewide 'Click it or Ticket' drive ."