Lake Charles, Louisiana — The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the Vinton Police Department, conducted a seatbelt checkpoint on Saturday, May 31, at 2903 Opelousas Street in Lake Charles. Officials reported that during the operation, deputies made contact with 417 vehicles and issued a total of 29 citations for various violations.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the primary focus of the checkpoint was to enforce the use of seatbelts and child restraints, as well as to identify other traffic violations. The event was funded through the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission’s “Click It or Ticket” campaign, a statewide initiative aimed at increasing seatbelt use and reducing injuries in vehicle crashes.

A breakdown of the citations shows that the majority were issued for not wearing seatbelts, with 22 drivers cited for this offense. Five citations were issued for improper or no child restraint. Additionally, one driver was cited for driving with a suspended license and another for having no insurance.

The “Click It or Ticket” campaign is an annual effort supported by federal and state agencies to raise awareness about seatbelt laws. Violations can result in fines and court costs, but more importantly, law enforcement officials stress that proper restraint use can save lives in the event of a crash.

Law enforcement agencies in Calcasieu Parish and across Louisiana are expected to continue similar checkpoints throughout the year, especially during high-traffic periods such as holidays and summer travel months.

All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.