Officers in Saline County recently concluded the spring Click It or Ticket Campaign.  Agencies participating were the Saline County Sheriff’s Office, Alexander Police Department, Benton Police Department, Bryant Police Department, and the Haskell Police Department.  

    There were a total of 592 vehicles stopped during the operation and 112 No Seat Belt citations issued.  Additionally, there were 3 No Child Restraint citations issued and 4 subjects arrested for outstanding warrants.  This mobilization took place all across the county at various times throughout the day and night. 

    Officers were actively looking for violations on patrol and at different high traffic intersections through the use of checkpoints.  Officers were working this initiative as part of a STEP (Selective Traffic Enforcement Program) grant the agencies have through the AR State Highway Office. 

    During the summer officers from all of the respective agencies will be conducting more seat belt checks and sobriety checkpoints at undisclosed locations in an effort to help protect our citizens. 

    In 2008, seat belts saved more than 13,000 lives nationwide. From 2004 to 2008, seat belts saved over 75,000 lives — enough people to fill a large sports arena.    Between 2004 and 2008 654 people lost their lives in Arkansas due to not wearing a seatbelt.  The overall goal of this project is to reduce the number of traffic-related injuries and deaths that result from not wearing a seatbelt, and to increase the seatbelt usage rate. 

    For more information on this subject please go to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website at: www.nhtsa.gov