Police Prepping For Click It Or Ticket

Forget the tickets and citations. The next time you get pulled over, the officer could reward you with ice cream, sodas or hot dogs. News On 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright reports these are incentives to save lives.

On Monday, a nationwide campaign called "Click It or Ticket" begins and goes for two weeks. Officers everywhere will be doing a major crackdown on people not wearing their seatbelts, but until then, Bixby officers are tracking down drivers who are wearing them.

Some drivers were so surprised by the police give-away, they're speechless.

"I really don't know what to say," said one driver.

These efforts are paying off, because about 83% of the drivers in Oklahoma wear their seatbelt, but in Bixby, 92% do.

Police say seatbelts are the best way to stay alive during a crash.

"So easy, only takes a couple of seconds and it's the only thing to keep them in the car, the only thing keeping them in is that seatbelt," said Bixby Police Officer Erik Smoot.

This effort is called Buckle Up Bixby and is a light-hearted way to get people's attention about a serious issue.

Drivers who were not wearing their seatbelts are got a dum-dum sucker, but on Monday, that sucker will be a ticket and will cost $20.

From Monday through June 1st, officers will be working overtime, looking for drivers not wearing seatbelts. They won't be writing warnings, just lots and lots of tickets.

Of course, Bixby police couldn't do the program without some generous businesses.

They want to thank QuikTrip, Cold Stone Creamery, Coney Beach and Freshens Yogurt for the coupons.

Remember, on Monday, all police agencies will be writing seatbelt tickets.