‘Ticket or Treat’: Sheriff says to expect strict enforcement of seat belt law

If you’re out the week of Halloween, you may see extra law enforcement presence in the Wichita area.

The so-called “Ticket or Treat” campaign — a play on the Halloween phrase “trick or treat” — will include strict enforcement of Kansas seat belt and child safety seat laws, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office said in a release. The campaign is supported by a Kansas Department of Transportation grant and includes other law enforcement agencies.

“Deputies will be especially vigilant around local middle and elementary schools,” the sheriff’s office said.

Kansas law requires children under age 4 to be correctly secured in an approved child safety seat, the sheriff’s office said. Children ages 4-7 must be secured in an approved booster seat unless taller than 4-foot-9 or heavier than 80 pounds. Children ages 8-13 must wear their seat belt.

“The aim of Ticket or Treat is simple: to drastically reduce the number of preventable deaths and injuries that occur when unbelted drivers and passengers are involved in traffic crashes,” the release said. “While seat belts may not always protect from serious or fatal injury, certainly no other piece of equipment within the vehicle provides more protection.”