Motosts surprised Wednesday by seat belt checkpoint
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on September 9, 2004 2:00 PM
MOUNT OLIVE -- Surprise was how some motorists were described when they were stopped Wednesday during a "Click It or Ticket" checkpoint, just east of Mount Olive.
Maj. Ralph Schroeder said Mount Olive police do routine checks of businesses in the area but seldom hold a traffic checkpoint.
"To do a checkpoint," he explained, "you have to have a lot of officers, because it's such a busy highway."
A total of 100 citations was issued during the two-hour checkpoint on N.C. 55, less than a mile east of the Mount Olive city limit.
Most citations were for minor traffic violations, but a few were taken in handcuffs to the Wayne County Jail on more serious charges, including driving while their license was revoked or not having an operator's license.
One driver forgot her license and was charged with failure to carry an operator's license. While crying, she told the officer that it was her first ticket. The offense usually carries a small fine and sometimes a suspended sentence.
The semi-annual statewide Click It or Ticket campaign encourages the use of seat belts and child safety seats. Thirty-eight seat-belt and eight child safety seat citations were issued. Three people were charged with driving while their license was revoked. Fifty-one other citations were filed for other minor traffic violations.
Seven Mount Olive police officers were joined by about 25 Goldsboro police officers, two Highway Patrol troopers and two Probation officers. The probation officers were looking for probation violators.
Capt. John Biggins said the Goldsboro officers had volunteered for the 10 a.m. to noon duty. Many had just completed their 12-hour shifts at 7 a.m.
Another major checking station with the Breath-Alcohol-Testing van is scheduled for Goldsboro later during the campaign that ends Sunday night.