Metropolitan Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey today announced that the first day of the Thanksgiving week Operation ABC -- America Buckles Up Children mobilization for the District of Columbia netted nearly 200 violators who failed to wear their seat belts.

Ramsey said Metropolitan Police issued 198 citations and gave two new child safety seats to motorists during the Operation ABC checkpoint on the 4500 block of Nebraska Avenue, NW, on November 23.

"These impressive results are in addition to our everyday enforcement of the District's seat belt and child safety seat laws -- the most comprehensive in the nation," the chief said. "Because of our ongoing efforts, 82 percent of District drivers now buckle up. Throughout this holiday season, Metropolitan Police are making an extra effort to get everyone buckled up, every time -- especially children," he said.

Chief Ramsey, the Metropolitan Police Department and the DC's Clickin'! Coalition joined national officials and law enforcement officers in launching the largest-ever week-long nationwide seat belt crackdown here on November 23. The Thanksgiving week Operation ABC involves nearly 5,000 law enforcement agencies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

"Our message in the District of Columbia is clear: If anyone in any car is not properly buckled up -- driver, passenger or child -- the driver will be stopped, ticketed, fined and assessed two points on his or her license. No exceptions. No excuses," Ramsey said. "No officer enjoys writing a ticket, but we will issue as many as needed to keep our children safe throughout this holiday season."

Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death to American children of all races. Last May's Operation ABC Mobilization succeeded in getting 6 million more Americans to wear seat belts and lowered the holiday death toll over the Memorial Day weekend by more than 35 percent, the largest decrease in 30 years.