David Quillin, Chief of Police

200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660

http://Police.KingsportTN.gov • www.KingsportPDBlog.com

On May 16, 2018 at an undisclosed period of time and location within the city limits of Kingsport, the Kingsport Police Department will be emphasizing our seatbelt education and enforcement activities through a seatbelt checkpoint. The ultimate goal of this effort is to reduce injuries and save lives in motor vehicle collisions that inevitably occur.

In the State of Tennessee, a violation of the seatbelt law is considered a primary offense, meaning that if an officer observes a motorist not wearing a seatbelt, or a child not properly restrained in a child passenger safety seat, the officer may stop and cite the motorist for the seatbelt or child passenger safety seat violation without observing any other criminal or traffic offenses.

Occupant protection laws apply not just to the driver, and not just to the front seat, but to every individual in the automobile. At the age of 16, a passenger assumes personal responsibility for the wearing of their seatbelt and would receive their own citation for not wearing one; however, the driver would be cited for each passenger under the age of 16 who is not properly restrained.

Wearing a seatbelt can easily make the difference in a motorist being seriously injured or killed in a crash versus walking away from the crash with minor injuries or no injuries whatsoever. The Kingsport Police Department encourages ALL occupants of ALL motor vehicles to wear their seatbelt ALL of the time. It is the law, but more importantly, it might just save your life.

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX)

ThomasMPatton