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NY State Thruway Launches "Buckle Up NY" Seat Belt Initiative
The New York State Thruway Authority and New York State Police Troop T today announced the launch of the Statewide seat belt enforcement initiative, "Buckle Up New York." The 14-day campaign will begin Monday, May 21 and continue until Sunday, June 3.
"While the vast majority of motorists on the Thruway do wear their seat belts, Troop T will continue high-profile enforcement and education efforts such as this one until we've reached 100 percent compliance," said Thruway Authority Executive Michael R. Fleischer. "Educating the motoring public about the importance of seat belt compliance along the New York State Thruway is a major focus of this initiative."
Beginning Monday, May 21, and continuing through Sunday, June 3, Troop T, along with law enforcement across New York State, will staff safety restraint checkpoints and patrol the 641- mile New York State Thruway ensuring seatbelt compliance.
"Buckling up clearly saves lives, and if you don't, you're going to get a ticket," said Troop T Commander Major George P. Beach II. "Every year State Police are called to accident scenes where injuries and fatalities could have been prevented had the operator or passengers been wearing seatbelts."
State Police Troop T issued 2,305 tickets to motorists not wearing their seat belts while traveling the Thruway during last year's Buckle Up New York Campaign. Drivers and frontseat passengers who are 16 years of age and older may be fined up to $50 for failing to buckle up. Drivers who fail to have children properly secured may be fined $100 and receive three points on their license.
New York State Law requires that all front seat occupants must be properly secured, regardless of age; all rear seat passengers under 16 years of age must be properly secured; children under age 4 must be restrained in a federally approved child safety seat; children under age 4, but weighing more than 40 pounds, may be secured in a booster seat with a lap/shoulder safety belt; children ages 4, 5 and 6 must be restrained in an appropriate child safety seat or booster seat, one for which the child meets the height and weight recommendations of the seat manufacturer. Children in this age group who are more than 4'9" tall are exempt from this requirement.
The Authority offers a free email service called TRANSalert to its customers via email or text messaging to inform them of major unscheduled incidents that may affect their travel on the Thruway. To sign up for the TRANSalert service, customers can visit the Authority's website at www.nysthruway.gov/tas/.
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