209 tickets issued to seat-belt violators

Wichita police say its participation in the statewide seat belt enforcement effort known as “Click It or Ticket” netted 215 car stops and more than 250 citations.

Of the citations, officers wrote 209 for seat belt violations, Sgt. Nikki Woodrow said. Eight drivers received speeding tickets, one was cited for texting and driving, and more than 30 other citations were given for various offenses, she said.

The “Click It or Ticket” campaign ran from May 22 to June 4.

Officers on off-duty special assignments worked the enforcement effort, Woodrow said.

Nearly half of the 22,441 drivers and passengers killed in traffic crashes nationwide in 2015 weren’t wearing seat belts, the Kansas Department of Transportation said, citing National Highway Traffic Safety Administration numbers.

“By wearing seat belt and properly buckling children into age- and size-appropriate car seats and booster seat, people can reduce their risk of serious injury or death of a crash by half,” Woodrow said. “So please take an extra second and put your seat belt on. It could save your life.”

This story was originally published June 8, 2017 at 11:26 AM with the headline "209 tickets issued to seat-belt violators."