Though Labor Day weekend was earlier this month, some Pennsylvania drivers may still be thinking about the ticket they were issued for a traffic violation. The ticket could have been for speeding, reckless driving, or even driving without a seat belt on. Regardless of the type of offense, drivers are ticketed and ordered to pay a fine.

Statistics reported by Pennsylvania State Police show that a number of drivers throughout the state were ticketed for traffic violations. And while a lot of tickets were issued, it appears that the numbers are lower than they were during Labor Day weekend last year.

The numbers may not be an accurate account of all the incidents and violations that occurred throughout the state. These statistics are taken only from reports by PSP, not including other local law enforcement agencies. However according to PSP, during the four-day holiday weekend:

  • 673 people were ticketed for not wearing their seat belt
  • 102 people were ticketed for not properly restraining children
  • 438 drivers were charged with drunk driving
  • 6,713 drivers were ticketed for speeding

In addition, PSP reported that almost 800 crashes occurred within that four-day period, injuring approximately 350 individuals and killing 9 others. Troopers are concerned that Pennsylvania drivers and passengers are underestimating the injury that can result from a crash if people in the vehicle are not properly restrained - many of the fatalities were linked to improper seat belt use.

That may be why troopers were also focused on ticketing people found not wearing seat belts. And while this type of citation, as well as other traffic tickets, may not seem like a big deal, it can impact a driver's finances and driving privileges, especially if a driver has multiple prior citations.

Source: Kittanning Paper: "State Police Report Nine Fatalities during Holiday Weekend," Jonathan Weaver, Sept. 8, 2011