The “Click It Or Ticket” campaign, sponsored and funded by the National Highway Safety Administration and administered by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, started May 20 and end will end at midnight on June 2.  The Winnfield Police Department was awarded a grant by the LHSC that resulted in 100 hours of overtime hours for officers to provide saturated patrols for enforcement of traffic laws and seat belt violations.

In Winnfield City Court, fines for seat belt violations, 1st offense, is $60.  Many officers stop offenders for moving violations and, at their discretion, drop to the lesser charge of a seat belt violation to avoid the higher fines and higher insurance rates for the driver. The average cost of a speeding ticket is $250.  

“Whether it is due to the saturated patrols, speed enforcement, or extra careful drivers, we are happy to report that there was only 1 motor vehicle accident inside the city limits of Winnfield during the holiday period 6 p.m. May 22 through midnight May 28,” reported Asst. Chief Charles Curry. “There were minor property damage and no injuries.”

The Winnfield Police Department reminds drivers that while this campaign centers around the Memorial Day weekend, all occupants shall always use their seat belts at all times as required by law.  Statistics have proven that restrained occupants are more likely to survive a crash than an unrestrained person.

This grant has also provided monies to participate in the next national campaign, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” centered around the Labor Day weekend.  This is a High-Visibility Traffic Safety Enforcement program that begins August 16 and runs through September 3.