MURFREESBORO, TN - As more families hit the road for vacation this summer, the Murfreesboro Police Department (MPD) is partnering with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) reminding drivers to Click It or Ticket.  Law Enforcement agencies across Tennessee will increase seat belt enforcement as part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) nationwide mobilization from May 20 through June 2.

“We encourage drivers to wear their seatbelt and wear it correctly,” said MPD Traffic Lieutenant Greg Walker. “Wearing it incorrectly can do more harm than good. A correctly worn seatbelt fits across your hip and pelvic bone and on top of your collar bone.”

Serious injury or death can be prevented if drivers get in the habit of buckling up.

The penalty for an adult is $25 for the first offense and $50 for the second offense. 

The penalty for children under nine years old not properly restrained is $160, $50 for children nine to 15-years-old, and $25 for children 16 to 17-years-old.

For more information about seat belt safety, visit www.tntrafficsafety.org/seat-belts. 

Tennessee Highway Safety Office - One focus of the Click It or Ticket campaign is nighttime enforcement. NHTSA data shows a higher number of unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities happen at night. Also, seat belt use differs among females and males. According to Tennessee’s Integrated Traffic Analysis Network (TITAN), 43% of males killed in Tennessee crashes last year were unrestrained. Of females killed in crashes, 35% were not buckled up. Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night.