The Click it or Ticket campaign ran from May 20th, 2018 through June 2nd, 2019. The Amarillo Police Department received a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation to fund extra officers to concentrate on and enforce seatbelt and child restraint laws during that period.
During this effort, there were 283 seatbelt citations issued, 2 child restraint citations issued, 49 speeding citations issued, 18 Distracted Driving citations (cell phone use while driving) and 307 warnings/citations were issued for “other violations”. Grant funded officers made 5 municipal misdemeanor level arrests and 1 county court charge level arrest, serving 21 warrants in the course of the arrests.
Seatbelt and child restraint enforcement will continue to be strict in Amarillo, even with the Click it or Ticket campaign coming to an end. The Amarillo Police Department currently has a comprehensive traffic grant from the Texas Department of Transportation that funds extra officers to concentrate enforcement efforts on DWI, Speeding, Seatbelt, and Child Restraint laws throughout the year. Wearing a seatbelt reduces the risk of fatal injury in a crash by 45% for car occupants and 60% for light truck occupants.
