News Release

March 12, 2008

Click It or Ticket mobilization spotlights unbelted occupants

AMES, Iowa – March 18 - 25, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) will use permanent dynamic message signs to remind Iowans to “Click It or Ticket – Day and Night.”  The signs are located in Ames, Mason City, Sioux City, Iowa City, Council Bluffs, Cedar Rapids, the Quad Cities, and the Des Moines metro area.

The signs will be in operation to support a law enforcement effort to support the use of safety belts anytime drivers or passengers are in a moving vehicle.

The enforcement campaign is part of Iowa’s special Traffic Enforcement Program (sTEP), a coordinated effort by law enforcement agencies to increase highway safety. Iowa DOT motor vehicle officers will join more than 200 state law enforcement agencies in an effort targeted to increase seat belt usage in all vehicles.

Since 1986 when the state’s original seat belt mandate was signed, more than 5,800 people involved in Iowa crashes have been spared death or serious injury because they wore a seat belt at the time of the crash. 

Notices will be displayed from March 19-25 in accordance with the following schedule (subject to override by critical traffic safety notices or Amber Alerts):

Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday: 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.



This is the first of four special enforcement efforts scheduled for 2008. Iowa’s next sTEP wave is set for May 19 to June 1.

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