Operation “Click It or Ticket” Continues Through Holiday Weekend

This Thanksgiving weekend, law enforcement agencies statewide, including Toccoa-Stephens County are teaming up to make sure all motorists are buckled up no matter where they’re headed.

Because holiday fatalities and unbelted crashes continue to occur at unacceptable rates, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety makes Operataion Click It Or Ticket a Thanksgiving tradition as much as turkey and stuffing.

Operation Click It or Ticket began November 17 and continues through midnight Sunday.

Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley says his officers will be out in force this weekend to make sure everyone stays safe on local roadways.

“The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Enforcement and Drug Suppression Unit will be performing highway safety checks and patrolling roads which have been identified as highway safety hazards relating to exessive speed and traffic crashes,” Shirley said. “We will be working closely with the Georgia State Patrol on county roadways looking for motorists who are not buckled up; especially children who are unsecured, as well as those operating vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”

And Toccoa Police will also have extra patrols and checkpoints inside the city limits this weekend as well, according to Police Chief Tim Jarrell.

“Of course we are working closely with the Georgia State Patrol and the Sheriff’s office during the holiday period in an effort to reduce the number of accidents and impaired driving,” Jarrell said. “We’re planning on conducting safety checkpoints to reduce the number of accidents.”

Officers will also be checking to make sure your children are properly buckled up in a car seat or child safety seat.

Georgia law requires children under the age of six to be restrained at all times in a child passenger restraining system while traveling in a passenger automobile, van or pickup truck.

Children under six who are over four feet, nine inches in height or weigh more than 40 pounds are exempt from child restraint seats but still must be in a safety belt.

Children ages 6 through 17 must be restrained by a seat belt at all times in all types of vehicles.

Adults 18 years of age and older must use seat belts while driving or while riding in the front seat of passenger vehicles, including sport utility vehicles.