Click It or Ticket is on its way

From May 22 through June 4, 160 law enforcement agencies, including the Prairie Village Police Department, will be aggressively enforcing Kansas occupant restraint and other traffic laws as part of the 2017 Kansas Click It or Ticket campaign. This activity is supported by a grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation. Enforcement will occur around the clock. Officers will be especially vigilant at night because seatbelt use diminishes after nightfall, meaning the likelihood of unrestrained crash injuries and deaths soars during those hours.

Drivers can expect strict enforcement of both the Kansas Safety Belt Use Act and the Kansas Child Passenger Safety Act. These statutes require that all vehicle occupants must be appropriately restrained. Law enforcement officers can stop vehicles and issue tickets when they observe front seat occupants, teens in any seat position, or children under the age of 14 riding without being properly restrained.

Occupants ages 14 and over are cited individually. In the event a passenger under the age of 14 is observed to be unrestrained, the driver will be cited. The fine for an adult seat belt violation is $10 (no court costs). The fine for a youth (14-17) violation is $60 (no court costs), while the fine for a child (0-13) restraint violation is $60 plus a court cost charge of as much as $108.

Children under the age of 4 must be correctly secured in an approved child safety seat. Children, ages 4 through 7, must be securely belted into an approved booster seat unless taller than 4 feet 9 inches or heavier than 80 pounds, in which case, the booster may be removed and the child belted in without it.

This story was originally published May 16, 2017 at 8:25 PM with the headline "Click It or Ticket is on its way."