Police Find High Compliance

With Safety Belt Laws

Town police have completed their “Click-It or Ticket” enforcement campaign of automobile safety belt and child safety seat laws, which ran from May 23 through June 5, finding high motorist compliance with safety belt laws.

The enforcement project indicated that there is a 91 percent seat belt usage rate by motorists driving in Newtown, said Sergeant Douglas Wisentaner. The state average usage rate is 83 percent; the national average usage rate is 79 percent.

The local enforcement campaign was one of 13,000 such projects conducted across the United States.

During the two-week enforcement project, police conducted spot checks and also did heavy patrolling. Law enforcement grant money was used to cover 64 hours of police overtime for extra patrol officers.

Among activities during the enforcement project were: the issuance of 138 infraction tickets and five written warnings for seat belt violations; one infraction ticket for a child safety restraint violation, and one drunken driving arrest.

Police also issued 29 infractions and 35 written warnings for speeding violations, and 59 infractions and 109 written warnings for other motor vehicle violations.

Police made three arrests for driving while under suspension. They made one arrest for drug possession. Police also investigated multiple motor vehicle accidents.