Statewide seat belt enforcement campaign begins

The Journal

Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado State Patrol and law enforcement partners will begin the annual statewide May Mobilization Click It or Ticket campaign. It is the largest seat belt enforcement period of the year, running from May 20 to June 2. The campaign supports CDOT’s vision to reduce the number of deaths and injuries in the state. To date, traffic fatalities in Colorado are down 23% from last year.

In 2018, there were 220 unbuckled fatalities on Colorado’s roads, accounting for about half of the 416 total passenger vehicle deaths. After three years of decline in seat belt use in Colorado, there was a slight increase to 86% in 2018. However, Colorado is well below the national average of 90% for seat belt use. Nationally, Colorado ranks in the bottom third of states.

Fines for not wearing a seat belt start at $65, and parents and caregivers found with an improperly restrained or unrestrained child can receive a minimum fine of $82.

For more information on Click It or Ticket enforcement and Colorado’s seat belt laws, visit www.codot.gov/safety/seatbelts-carseats.