Click-it-or-ticket#039; nets 59 citations
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 30, 2001
When traveling on the streets of Greenville, or anywhere else in Alabama, not wearing a seatbelt could lead to a citation.
The City of Greenville Police Department, like law enforcement agencies all over the state, are participating in what Gov. Don Siegelman has called the Click-it-or-ticket' campaign, to bring about awareness to the motoring public that safety laws are not to be ignored.
Capt. Danny Campbell, patrol division commander at GPD, has been busy with his officers, utilizing roadside checks to comply with the program.
"So far we have held four roadside checkpoints," Campbell said.
The program was set to coincide with the Memorial Day holiday weekend, a time when Department of Public Safety estimated 13 holiday traffic deaths.
Campbell said his department had the busiest activity on Saturday, May 26.
"We held two checkpoints for two hours each on Saturday," Campbell said. "On Pineapple Hwy., we saw 218 vehicles in two hours, and then on Luverne Hwy., we saw another 269, for a total of 487 vehicles."
Campbell said of the 487 vehicles, 59 citations were issued to motorists.
"The largest number of violations we saw were regarding proof of motor vehicle insurance," Campbell said. "We wrote 45 tickets for proof of insurance, three for no seat belt worn, and one for not using an approved child restraint.
"In addition, we wrote four citations for driving with a revoked license, three for driving with a suspended license, two for driving without first obtaining a driver's license, and one for an open container of alcohol in the vehicle."
Campbell said three of those seen at the checkpoints were arrested for alias warrants, also.
"The biggest problem we have seen is not seatbelt usage," Campbell said. "It is proof of insurance."
Campbell said many motorists did not have proof of insurance from their insurance companies.
"The law is specific, when it comes to defining proof," Campbell said. "You must have all of the following on your insurance identification card, in your motor vehicle: the vehicle year model, vehicle make, vehicle identification number (VIN), name of insurance company, policy number, and the effective and expiration dates, not to exceed a 12-month period."
Campbell said anything less will cause a traffic citation to be issued.
"We have held four checkpoints so far, and will hold another four before we are finished with the program," he said.
Campbell, and all other officers in the campaign feel the same about the issue. They say there have been too many deaths from lack of safety precautions, and it is their job to bring about awareness, and besides, IT'S THE LAW!