Press release from APD:
You may want to think twice before deciding to drive or ride without a seatbelt this Memorial Day. Starting May 23, Asheville Police Department Officers will be handing out citations to unbuckled motorists and passengers during the annual Memorial Day “Click It or Ticket” enforcement campaign, which runs until June 5. Wearing a seatbelt while in both the front and back seats of a moving vehicle is the law in Asheville and throughout the state.
“Our focus of the campaign is safety,” emphasized Chief David Zack, Asheville Police. “We want to stress that a fine is the least of your worries when it comes to seatbelt use. If you’re in a serious vehicle crash, wearing a seatbelt can be the difference between life and death. Buckling up can reduce your chance in half of being killed or seriously injured in the event of a bad wreck.”
In 2021, 555 unbuckled motorists were killed in crashes on North Carolina roads, including 28 during the Memorial Day “Click It or Ticket” enforcement campaign period.
Increased enforcement during specific campaign periods year-round is a key part of making North Carolina roads safer. 2021 marked the most traffic fatalities across the state since 1973.
“We encourage folks to get out and about as they enjoy the warmer weather,” said Sgt. Adam Cabe, APD Traffic Safety Unit supervisor. “We also want them to have safety on their mind by taking a few seconds to buckle up.”
As always, if you have information about any criminal matter, you are encouraged to contact APD at (828) 252-1110. Or you send an anonymous tip using the TIP2APD smartphone application (search “Asheville PD” in your app store) or by texting TIP2APD to 847411.
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