Last week, the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department joined the nationwide “Click It or Ticket” campaign, which was described as a success for both the community and the Sheriff’s Department, Cpt. Joe Quave said.
From May 22 to June 4, the department set up safety checkpoints and enlisted the help of the entire patrol squad, as well as the community, to find drivers not wearing seat belts. Seat belts have been proven to save many lives when used properly.
“In multi-motor vehicle collisions, wearing a seat belt can be the difference between life and death,” Quave said. “Anyone can get injured when driving.”
Throughout the three-week campaign, the department reported an average of 3.14 seat belt violations per day, totaling 44 seat belt violations. During the campaign, deputies conducted two DUI arrests and wrote citations for one child restraint violation, 10 suspended driver’s licenses, 18 no insurance offenses, two reckless driving offenses and 71 other citations consisting of minor motor vehicle infractions that include equipment violations and expired or no tag. Deputies also performed one drug arrest and served eight warrants.
Quave said, “We’re glad the number wasn’t higher than it was. The results indicate that the community is being safe.”
Before the enforcement period began, Quave said the department received many anonymous requests to patrol certain areas.
“We were blessed from the efforts we received from not only our patrolmen and women, but also from the community,” Quave said. “We always look for input from the public and respond to those requests.”
He said that knowing community members want to ensure the community is safe for themselves, their families, friends and neighbors puts a smile on his face.
Though the “Click It or Ticket” campaign is to promote seat belt usage, it’s also an opportunity for the department to educate the public why it is important to buckle up.
“When you get inside a vehicle, the first thing you should do is buckle up. Anything can happen out on the roads,” Quave said.
He and the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department encourage the public to stay involved.
Quave said people can request or alert the department by anonymously calling 601-798-5528 or send an anonymous private message to them via their Facebook page.