Early Police Department reminds motorists to Click It or Ticket. In order to enforce this reminder, Early Police Department will be stepping up enforcement beginning May 19th, 2014, along with other law enforcement agencies in Brown County and across the state.

Early Police Department efforts are part of a larger, national Click It or Ticket mobilization that runs May 19 – June 1. As motorists take to the roads to celebrate the long Memorial Day weekend, law enforcement officials across the nation will be ensuring that everyone buckles up.

“Memorial Day weekend kicks off summer vacation season, and we want to ensure that everyone arrives at their destination safe and sound,” said Early Chief of Police David Mercer. “If you are not wearing your seat belt, you will be ticketed.”

According to new data released from the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), fatalities are up nationwide for the first time in five years. In 2012, 10,335 people who were killed in motor vehicle crashes were not wearing their seat belts. NHTSA data also details how more traffic vehicle deaths occur at night. In 2012, 61 percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed during the nighttime hours of 6:00 p.m. – 5:59 a.m. were not wearing their seat belts.

“We are determined to help bring these numbers down,” said Mercer. “There are too many people dying on the roads, and many of those deaths could have been prevented if people took the simple step of wearing their seat belt. Locally, many unbelted vehicle occupants died. Many of these deaths could have been prevented if people had buckled up. We will be handing out tickets year-round to those who still haven’t gotten the message.”

For more information on the Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/ciot.