03/28/2024
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By: Erin Smith

The results of the 2015 Thanksgiving “Click It or Ticket” Campaign are in and the numbers tell a sobering picture. The event is a joint effort of the Governor’s Highway Safety program and the N.C. Department of Transportation.

The campaign took place from November 23 through November 29 and resulted in 3,395 seat belt violations and child passenger safety violations.

In Bladen County, there were two checkpoints and 21 patrols that resulted in seven DWI arrests, 22 seatbelt violations and one child passenger safety violation. There were also 84 speeding citations, 16 citations for driving while license is revoked, 32 other traffic violations, two citations for uninsured motorist and nine citations for reckless driving. Officers also made one felony arrest.

The total traffic and criminal violations for Bladen County for the Thanksgiving campaign are 174.

In Columbus County, there were 10 checkpoints and 30 patrols that resulted in four DWI arrests, 46 seatbelt violations and one child passenger safety violation. There were also 180 speeding citations, 15 citations for driving while license is revoked, one violation of a graduated drivers license, 60 other traffic violations, one citations for uninsured motorist and nine citations for reckless driving.

The total traffic and criminal violations for Columbus County were 317.

“Buckling up takes three seconds and is a simple action that could save your life,” said Don Nail, director of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program.  “Our vision for N.C. is zero fatalities and the stepped up patrols enable law enforcement officers to help remind motorists that wearing your seat belt is not only the smart thing to do to save your life, it’s the law.”

The top five counties for seatbelt violations were Forsyth County with 309 citations, Robeson County with 199 citations, Mecklenberg County with 123 citations, Sampson County with 117 citations, and Wake County with 117 citations.

Statewide there were a total of 3,857 checkpoints and patrols resulting in 41,015 traffic and criminal violations.

According to a release, the seatbelt usage in North Carolina decreased 90.6 percent in 2014 to 89.9 percent in 2015.

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