Annual Holiday Traffic Enforcement Effort To Begin

SOUTH CHARLESTON – Beginning on Monday, November 17, 2003, and continuing through Sunday, November 30, 2003, the West Virginia State Police will be a part of three nationwide efforts to crackdown on drunk drivers, child restraint violations and everyday traffic violations. The West Virginia Click It or Ticket Campaign and Operation ABC Mobilization: America Buckles Up Children are aimed at enforcing occupant protection violations. Operation CARE: Combined Accident Reduction Effort is designed to reduce traffic crashes through strict enforcement of traffic laws.

The West Virginia Click It or Ticket Campaign begins on November 17 and runs through November 30, 2003. The goal of the program is to focus on occupant protection. For years, West Virginia has had one of the lowest seat belt usage rates in the nation. Through the combined efforts of law enforcement and traffic safety organizations statewide, the seat belt usage rate has seen a steep increase in recent years.

Operation ABC Mobilization: America Buckles Up Children, scheduled for November 24 through November 30, 2003, is a campaign designed to increase the use of child passenger safety seats in vehicles across America. During this campaign, an emphasis on educating the public on the proper usage and installation of child safety seats are the keys for success.

The Operation CARE: Combined Accident Reduction Effort, slated for November 26 through November 30, 2003, was formed as a multi-jurisdictional program of patrol, enforcement, and planning activities committed to the goal of accident reduction. This goal is achieved through strict enforcement of DUI, speeding violations and occupant protection violations.

“I have directed Troopers statewide to conduct aggressive patrolling on the roadways and to strictly enforce drunk driving, speeding and occupant protection laws,” said Colonel Howard E. Hill, Jr., Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police. “Thanksgiving always produces a high volume of motoring traffic; therefore, the State Police intends to provide as much visibility as possible in order to ensure a safe holiday week.

During last year’s enforcement effort, West Virginia had five fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes resulting in five deaths. Of those five fatal crashes, three were alcohol related.

West Virginia law regarding child passenger safety seats has changed. As of July 1, 2003, all children under age four or 40 pounds must be in an approved child restraint device and all occupants under eighteen must utilize seatbelts. West Virginia law also requires that all front seat passengers be restrained through the use of seatbelts.
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