HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC SERVICES SECTION
SERGEANT RANDY K. APELE
PHONE: 961-2305
JUNE 10, 2004
MEDIA RELEASE
Big Island police issued 698 citations for failure to use seat belts and 23 for failure to use child restraints during the department’s “Click It or Ticket Campaign.”
During the period of May 24-June 6, 2004, officers also issued 646 citations for moving and regulatory violations and made 16 arrests, including two for impaired driving, at 97 seat belt checkpoints located a various locations around the island.
The Big Island effort was part of a nationwide “Click It or Ticket Mobilization,” funded by the federal government to encourage the use of seat belts and child restraints.
“A seat belt is your No. 1 protection against injury or death in a motor vehicle crash,” said Sergeant Randy Apele of the Traffic Services Section.
“Thanks to these Click It or Ticket mobilizations, our usage rate for Hawaii County is at an all-time high of 95 percent. That’s a lot of lives saved and injuries prevented.”
Police will continue to conduct seat belt checkpoints islandwide to encourage continued seat belt use, he said.
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