The Issaquah Police Department is joining law enforcement agencies throughout Washington for Click It or Ticket, a campaign to make sure motorists buckle up and pay attention behind the wheel.
Through June 2, 2013, motorists can expect to see officers patrolling for unbuckled drivers and passengers, as well as for drivers using their cellphones.
“In addition to encouraging people to wear their seat belts, we want to impact the major contributor of collisions in the city of Issaquah – distracted driving,” Police Chief Paul Ayers said. “Officers will be out in force ticketing drivers who choose to text or talk on the phone.”
Last year, during the same time period, officers on routine and extra patrols statewide issued 3,171 seat belt violations. In addition, officers statewide wrote 1,059 cellphone violations during the same time period last year.
Click It or Ticket and all extra patrols are part of Target Zero, a statewide program to end traffic deaths and serious injuries in Washington by 2030.
The campaign is the latest step in an ongoing process to improve safety for Washington motorists.
In June 2002, when Washington’s primary seat belt law went into effect, about 82 percent of Washington drivers wore seat belts. Today, almost 97 percent of Washington drivers are buckling up.