MAMARONECK, NY (May 24, 2025) — The Village of Mamaroneck Police Department is participating in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Click It or Ticket high-visibility seat belt enforcement effort, running from May 19 to June 1, 2025. This national campaign aligns with the Memorial Day holiday, aiming to encourage drivers and passengers to make buckling up a habit.
On May 28, , the Village of Mamaroneck Police Department will be partnering with the City of Rye PD to conduct a joint seatbelt and motorist safety checkpoint at the intersection of East Boston Post Road and Hornidge Road. Officers from both agencies will be at the location from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM checking seatbelts and general New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law compliance.
“We want seat belt use to be an automatic habit for drivers and passengers alike,” said Chief P.J. Trujillo. “It’s not just a safe thing to do – it’s the law.” During the campaign, the department will collaborate with law enforcement agencies across local and state lines to enforce seat belt laws rigorously. Chief Trujillo emphasized that buckling up is the simplest way to limit injury or save lives in a crash, noting the preventable loss of life often seen due to non-compliance.
The national seat belt use rate stood at 91.9% in 2023, leaving 8.1% of individuals needing reminders about the life-saving benefits of seat belts. Law enforcement agencies involved will adopt a no-excuses approach, issuing citations day and night to ensure compliance.
A key focus of the campaign is nighttime enforcement, as NHTSA data indicates a higher incidence of unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities during these hours. The data also highlights differences in seat belt use by gender: in 2023, more than half (53%) of males killed in crashes were unrestrained, compared to 41% of females.
“If the enforcement effort alerts people to the dangers of unrestrained driving, we’ll consider our mission to be a success,” Chief Trujillo added. He urged community members to encourage friends and family who do not buckle up to change their habits, spreading the message that “seat belts save lives, and everyone – front seat and back, child and adult – needs to remember to buckle up.”
For more details on the Click It or Ticket campaign, visit NHTSA.gov/ClickIt. Contact Lt. Mark Gatta at (914) 825-8588 or mgatta@vompd.com for additional information.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.