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Media Advisory

Neil Smith joins law officers to remind Kansans of seat belt laws

Click It Or Ticket enforcement mobilization starts May 24

            Neil Smith lost a teammate and also a nephew in separate vehicular crashes. Neither was wearing a seat belt. Now the former NFL defensive standout for the Kansas City Chiefs is focusing his energies on preventing others from suffering the same fate. Smith will join Kansas law enforcement officers in kicking off an aggressive mobilization to enforce the state’s seat belt laws. The officers are those featured in Click It Or Ticket television and radio ads being aired throughout the states. The kick-off coincides with the registration for the Third Annual Neil Smith Buckle-Up 5K Run/Walk, to be held Saturday, May 22, at Arrowhead Stadium.

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            Neil Smith’s Overland Park restaurant, Copeland’s, will be the site of a kick-off for an aggressive law enforcement mobilization effort designed to improve seat belt usage rates in Kansas and in doing so, save lives. Smith will also be promoting and registering participants for the Third Annual Neil Smith Buckle-Up 5K Run/Walk, to be held Saturday, May 22, at Arrowhead Stadium. Proceeds from that event will be donated to the trauma center at Truman Medical Center. Joining Smith will be his sister-in-law, Denise Dameron, whose son, Gary L. Dameron, Jr. died as a result of being unbelted in a traffic crash. Neil and Denise have become strong advocates of seat belt safety since his death. Neil was also a friend and teammate of Derrick Thomas, the popular Kansas City Chiefs linebacker, who died in February 2000 from injuries suffered after losing control of his vehicle during a snowstorm. Thomas, who was not buckled up, was thrown from the vehicle. The Click It Or Ticket campaign is a national initiative that has been successful in other states and is being implemented in Kansas for the first time.