Maine Police To Launch Hunt For Seat Belt Scofflaws

If you don't wear your seat belt, it's dangerous. If you don't wear it for the next two weeks, it's probably going to cost you.

Starting at 4 p.m. on Monday, May 22, Maine police are paying special attention to those who don't buckle up with a $300,000 "Click It Or Ticket" campaign.

“As we kick-off the busy summer driving season, it is critical that everyone buckles up, day and night – no excuses,” said Colonel Robert Williams, Chief of the Maine State Police. “Troopers are prepared to ticket anyone who is not wearing their seat belt, including drivers who have neglected to buckle their children.”

The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety has provided $313,000 to 45 Maine police agencies to pay for overtime.

Police departments taking part in the campaign include Bangor, Bucksport, Caribou, Fort Kent, Houlton, Lincoln, Old Town, Orono and Presque Isle.

“Seat belts save dozens of Maine lives every year, but some motorists are still not buckling up, especially at night when the risk of getting in a crash is greater,” said Lauren Stewart, Director of the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety.

Stewart said seat belt usage in Maine is very high, but 42% of those killed during the day were not wearing a seat belt, and 65% of deadly nighttime crash victims were not buckled in.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 9,874 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2015 were not wearing seat belts.