Law Enforcement Officers Rally for Start of Spring Buckle-up Campaign

          Eight Southeast States to Model North Carolina's 'Click It
                            Or Ticket' Initiative

    RALEIGH, N.C., May 14 Law enforcement officers from across
the state gathered this morning to launch the spring "Click It or Ticket"
campaign in the Children's Garden in downtown Raleigh.  Speakers included
Chief Deputy Gene Conti of the Department of Transportation, Col. Richard
Holden, commander of the State Highway Patrol, and Paul Jones, director of
North Carolina SAFE KIDS/Buckle Up.

    "Click It or Ticket" features stepped-up enforcement of North Carolina's
seat belt and child passenger safety laws.  A multi-agency checkpoint and
child passenger safety clinic followed the kickoff at Pullen Park.  It was the
first of hundreds of similar activities that will be conducted daily across
North Carolina throughout the three-week campaign, which continues through
June 3.

    North Carolina's "Click It or Ticket" program is the model for a regional
high visibility enforcement and public education campaign to get drivers
throughout the Southeast to buckle up.  Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee will launch their programs on
May 21.

    "We are proud that our neighbors recognize the lifesaving value of what
has become standard operation here, and we wish them much more than just good
luck in this endeavor," said Chief Deputy Conti.  "We wish them what North
Carolina has achieved through 'Click It or Ticket': a significant increase in
seat belt and child safety seat use -- and a significant reduction in the
number of fatal and serious-injury traffic crashes."

    A second "Click It or Ticket" event will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday,
May 22, at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center, 600 East Fourth
Street, in Charlotte.  A checkpoint and clinic will follow on North Caldwell
Street between 6th and 8th streets.  Speaking at the Charlotte event will be
GHSP Acting Director Don Nail, Chuck Hurley of the National Safety Council and
Maury Hannigan, commissioner emeritus of the California Highway Patrol.  Also
scheduled to speak are Col. Holden, Col. Ralph Mobley of South Carolina
Highway Patrol, and Lt. Col. Johnny Grimes of the Georgia State Patrol.  The
three colonels will travel to other "Click It" events to follow in Columbia,
SC, and Atlanta, Ga.