Area group joins seat-belt campaign

STAFF REPORT

BOARDMAN — Mahoning Safe Communities is joining state and local law enforcement agencies and highway safety groups in supporting an aggressive national Click It or Ticket seat-belt enforcement campaign from Monday through May 31.

Police will be ticketing vehicle occupants night and day for failing to use their seat belts.

Stepped-up law enforcement activities will be conducted during the 2009 Click It or Ticket mobilization period. The mobilization is being supported by an $8 million national paid-advertising campaign, which, along with additional state advertising, will encourage every driver and passenger to buckle up, especially at night.

“Seat belts clearly save lives. But, unfortunately, too many folks still need a tough reminder, so we are going to be out in force day and night in 2009 buckling down on those who are not buckled up,” said police Chief James Willock of Goshen Township.

A local kickoff event for the campaign is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday at Chick-Fil-A parking lot on U.S. Route 224, near South Avenue. Representatives from all county law enforcement agencies will attend the event and participate in the campaign.

This year, Chick-Fil-A has donated coupons for a free Chick-Fil-A sandwich to be awarded by law enforcement during the two-week campaign to motorists and passengers who are “caught” buckled up.