Click It or Ticket Campaign, Jan. 26

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as well as other State Law Enforcement agencies across the state, from February 6-19, 2017 for the national “click it or ticket” campaign. Deputies will be working special overtime, federally funded, and administered by the Oregon Department of Transportation. Deputies will be focusing on enforcing various traffic violations that will include, but are not limited to: seat belt use in motor vehicles, violating the “hands-free” cellphone law, texting, and speed. “As law enforcement, we have a special role in helping protect the safety of our citizens, from the East to the West Coast,” said Sergeant Mark Norris. “Time after time we see the deadly results that come from drivers and passengers refusing to wear a seat belt. Wearing a seat belt is one of the most important steps in increasing survivability in a crash. Our job is to stop those who are not buckled up, and to keep them from repeating this potentially deadly mistake. Oregon law requires belts be used and maintained in working order. A child weighing less than 40 pounds must be restrained in a child safety seat. A child under one year of age or weighing less than twenty pounds must be restrained in a rear-facing child seat. A child over forty pounds, but under age eight, or less that 4’9” tall must be restrained in a booster seat that elevates them so the lap/shoulder belts fit correctly. For help with child safety seats, refer to the seat manufacturer’s instructions, vehicle owner’s manual or call ACTS Oregon Child Safety Seat Resource Center at 1-800-772-1315. You can find out more about the Click It or Ticket campaign at www.nhtsa.gov/ciot  Failure to properly use safety belts is a Class D traffic infraction.