Phillipsburg Among Towns to be Part of Statewide ‘Click It or Ticket’ Campaign

PHILLIPSBURG, NJ - New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Highway Traffic Safety (HTS) announced over $750,000 in funding for the annual “Click It or Ticket” campaign to raise awareness among drivers and passengers about the lifesaving importance of wearing seat belts.

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This year, 119 New Jersey law enforcement agencies have received $766,010 from HTS to help pay for increased road patrols, seat belt checkpoints, and other enforcement initiatives during the “Click It or Ticket” campaign. In Warren County, the Town of Phillipsburg is the only town to receive funding for this initiative.

Phillipsburg is being awarded a grant for $10,500 for this initiative.

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The campaign is part of HTS’ ongoing efforts to increase safety and reduce fatalities on New Jersey roadways. Recent data from 2022 reveals that in New Jersey there were 140 unbelted fatalities and 39% of all motor vehicle occupant fatalities were unrestrained compared to 44% nationally. In the last five years, nearly 16% of all unrestrained occupants killed in motor vehicle crashes in New Jersey were between the ages of 20 and 24, compared to 13.5% nationally.

“Seat belts save lives – we want that message to be loud and clear. And the campaign we are announcing today will provide law enforcement agencies with resources to reinforce that basic but critical point,” said Attorney General Platkin. “As we prepare for the busy summer driving season, we are laser focused on ensuring safety on roadways across New Jersey. This starts with drivers and passengers buckling up the moment they enter a vehicle.”

Law enforcement agencies who participated statewide last year in the “Click It or Ticket” campaign issued 6,989 citations, wrote 2,320 speeding summonses, and made 232 impaired driving arrests.

"In New Jersey, a state known for its busy highways and beautiful shorelines, spending time on the road is inevitable. However, it's important to prioritize safety no matter your destination," said Michael J. Rizol Jr., Director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety. "Wearing your seatbelt is not only required by law, but it can also save your life. Remember to buckle up, day or night, every seat, every time."

The "Click It or Ticket" campaign also coincides with the "101 Days of Summer," considered the busiest and most dangerous travel period of the year. Beautiful weather and New Jersey’s countless entertainment and recreational destinations create heavy travel demands in the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Over the next three months, HTS will continue to work closely with local, county, state, and national law enforcement agencies to make summer travel safer and strive to reduce crashes and fatalities throughout New Jersey.

Law enforcement agencies throughout New Jersey take a "no-excuses" approach to seat belt compliance, with the maximum penalty of a $46 fine for a seat belt violation serving as a reminder to buckle up, every time.

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