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Bulloch participating in 'Click it or Ticket' campaign during Thanksgiving holiday
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    The Governor's Office of Highway Safety said more than half of crash victims killed during last Thanksgiving weekend were not wearing seat belts, and has asked law enforcement across the state to crack down on those who skip buckling up.
    The effort to promote seat belt safety goes hand in hand with a request by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for law enforcement everywhere to be out in force during the holiday, said Jim Shuler, with the Governor's Office of Highway Safety public affairs office.
    "It's just so clear that safety belts save lives," said GOHS Director Bob Dallas. "But unfortunately too many folks still need a tough reminder. So, in Georgia, if you don't click it, you should expect a ticket!"
    Thanksgiving weekend is one of  the most dangerous and deadly times of the year due to low safety belt use, Shuler said. Last year, there were 2,760 crashes during Thanksgiving weekend in Georgia. Seventeen victims died and 1,277  people were injured.
    The holidays bring more drunk drivers as well, which make the dangers of injury or death rise, and is even more reason to wear seat belts, he said.
    The Statesboro Police Department, as well as the Georgia State Patrol, Bulloch County Sheriff's Department, Georgia Southern University Police, and Portal, Register and Brooklet police departments will be actively participating in the "Click it or Ticket" campaign this Thanksgiving weekend. Nov. 12-25, officers will be conducting aggressive patrols and issuing citations for all violations, not just seat belt offenses.
    "It's not about writing more tickets," Shuler said. "It's about reducing injuries and saving lives."
    For more information or to have your child's safety seat checked, contact Advanced Patrol Officer Patrick Harrison at the Statesboro Police Department at 764-9911, or contact your local law enforcement office.
   
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