Cpl. Bart Veal

Public Information Officer

903-798-3187 (office) 903-798-2368 (pager)

903-824-4199 (cell) 903-798-3023 (fax)

Texarkana Arkansas Police Badge

Re: Click It or Ticket Campaign 2004

During the period of May 24th to June 6th, The Texarkana Arkansas Police Department will be participating in a nationwide Click It or Ticket campaign. This is a campaign that focuses attention on child restraint and seat belt usage and compliance.

During next two week’s campaign, The Texarkana Arkansas Police Department will be increasing its patrol efforts targeting unrestrained occupants. The Click It or Ticket Campaign is funded by a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD).

Our goal, in Texarkana, is to increase awareness in occupant restraint. We want to inform the motoring public that every child that is either less than 6 years old or less than 60 pounds is required, by law, to be in a child safety seat. This law also requires all children 14 years of age and under to be buckled up, regardless of their seating position, and the driver is responsible for making sure all under age occupants are in compliance. This is a primary violation, and the driver can be cited, if stopped.

We also want to encourage seat belt usage by the adults. Arkansas has the lowest rating for seat belt usage in a five state region at 54.5% and the national average is 71%.

The Texarkana Arkansas Police Department will be doing our part to raise the compliance with a zero tolerance approach. No Excuses, No Exception.