NORTH CAROLINA — North Carolina is urging drivers to buckle up as millions travel for Thanksgiving, launching its annual Click It or Ticket campaign that runs Nov. 24-30. The statewide effort aims to increase seat belt use and reduce crash-related injuries and deaths.
Violators face a $180 fine for not wearing a seat belt and $266 if a child under 16 is not properly restrained. State law requires drivers and passengers 16 and older to wear seat belts in both front and back seats. Children younger than 16 must be secured in age, weight and height appropriate restraints under the NC Child Passenger Safety law.
Exemptions to the state’s seat belt law include:
• Vehicles not required to have belts, including cars made before 1968 and light trucks, vans and SUVs made before 1972
• Drivers of noncommercial motor vehicles with a professionally certified medical condition or mental phobia preventing use
• Rural letter carriers and newspaper carriers while performing duties
• Frequently stopping delivery vehicles if speed between stops does not exceed 20 mph
• Vehicles with Farm license plates used for agricultural purposes in intrastate commerce
• Any occupant of a motor home other than the driver and front seat passengers
• Backseat occupants of law enforcement vehicles while in custody
• Passengers of residential garbage or recycling trucks during collection rounds
According to NCDOT, 23 people were killed during Thanksgiving week last year, 15 of whom were not wearing seat belts. Since 1993 more than 11,900 people have died in crashes because they were unbelted.
“Seat belts save lives and wearing one is the easiest step anyone can take to stay safe on the road,” said N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program Director Mark Ezzell. “We want everyone to arrive safely to their destination. Those who do not comply can expect to be stopped.”