“Strict enforcement of New Jersey’s Primary Seat Belt law has enabled us to raise our seat belt usage rate in the state to 81.2%,” said Attorney General Peter C. Harvey. “The goal now is to reach the remaining seat belt non-users and convince them to buckle up on every trip.”

During the last “Click It or Ticket” enforcement wave in May, 267 police agencies in the state issued a total of 22,941 seat belt summonses to motorists who were not buckled up. For the November 17 - 30 mobilization, the Division of Highway Traffic Safety has awarded “Click It or Ticket” enforcement grants to 112 municipal police departments. The grants, of $3,600, will fund targeted seat belt enforcement patrols during the mobilization period. It is also anticipated that as in May, many non-funded local police departments will participate in the “Click It or Ticket” campaign.

“Our seat belt usage rate in New Jersey has risen for seven consecutive years because of the strong support and commitment of the state’s law enforcement community,” said Division Director Roberto Rodriguez. “We are pleased to offer these grants. This crucial campaign will continue until every New Jersey resident buckles up.”

The Mission of the Division of Highway of Highway Traffic Safety is to reduce fatalities, injuries and property damage on the roads of New Jersey resulting from traffic crashes. To achieve its mission, the Division undertakes traffic safety programs relating to Education, Enforcement and Engineering. The bulk of the Division’s funding comes from the federal government, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The funding received by the Division is used to undertake state-wide traffic safety programs and is also dispersed to local, county and state agencies in the form of traffic safety grants.