Buckeye police to briefly heighten seatbelt enforcement

Buckeye police will conduct heightened seatbelt enforcement during the national Click It or Ticket Enforcement Campaign in late May.

The enforcement initiative, which runs from May 19 through June 1, raises awareness of the importance of buckling up and using child safety seats to reduce the risk of injury or death in a crash.

”Buckeye police were awarded $10,000 in grants from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to support our participation in the Click It or Ticket campaign and cover personnel costs and employee-related expenses for enhanced enforcement. During Click It or Ticket, officers will conduct intensive traffic enforcement of seat belt and child safety seat violations,” said Carissa Planalp, a spokesperson for Buckeye police, in a press release.

More than 1,300 people were killed in crashes in 2023, according to data from the Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts Report. More than a quarter of those were not restrained by seatbelts or appropriate car seats and booster seats for children based on age and size. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the risk of death and serious injury in a crash is significantly reduced when drivers and passengers are properly restrained.

"The Buckeye Police Department thanks the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety for its ongoing support in our education and enforcement efforts to improve driving habits and keep our community and our roads safe," Planalp said.