Local law enforcement officials from several agencies said they were “pleased” with the results of the most recent “Click It or Ticket” campaign, which began May 18 and ended May 31.

In Sampson County, out of 29 checkpoints and patrols, there were a total of 495 traffic and criminal violations during the campaign.

The final statewide total for the campaign included 13,654 seat belt citations and 1,478 child passenger safety citations. State and local law enforcement officers issued the citations during more than 8,500 checkpoints and stepped-up patrols.

In the final weekend of the campaign, checkpoints at three separate locations in Sampson County’s northern end resulted in 72 charges. One of those stops netted two felony arrests for heroin by transport and heroin by possession, as well as the confiscation of 46.1 grams of Vicoden.

In addition to deputies from the Sheriff’s Office and H.E.A.T. (Highway Enforcement Awareness Team), Clinton Police and Highway Patrol officials were also involved in all of the checkpoints.

Sampson County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. R.E. Stroud said he was happy with the results.

“These (checkpoints) were part of the ‘Click It or Ticket’ campaign,” Stroud said, “but we plan on being very active thanks to the N.C. Government Highway Safety Program — so we plan on being involved with several more campaigns from here on out through the rest of the year. You can look at the results of this one — these stops are very effective.”

The “Click It or Ticket” program began as a national pilot project in 1993 to increase seat belt usage and child passenger safety through stepped-up enforcement of the state’s seat belt and child safety seat laws.

In addition to cracking down on unrestrained drivers and passengers, officers across the state charged 2,220 motorists with driving while impaired during the “Click It or Ticket” campaign. Officers issued a total of 6,309 criminal violations, including 1,597 drug charges, 95 stolen vehicles and 629 fugitives captured.

“I thank law enforcement officers across the state who participated in this life saving campaign,” North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue said in a statement. “I urge North Carolinians who still choose to remain unbuckled to think twice and remember that a seat belt or proper child safety seat could save your life or the life of a loved one.”

N.C. Highway Patrol’s Sgt. D.L. Hewitt said in a recent interview that there is a few ways to ensure travel safe on local and state highways — “Please don’t drink and drive. Drive for the other person, as I always say because you never know what the person has had in them. And don’t speed — leave in enough time to get to your destination safely and on time. Don’t be in a hurry.”

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@myclintonnc.com.