CSP Schedules Click it or Ticket Campaign April 2-8

        DENVER – In an effort to increase seat belt use and save lives on rural Colorado roadways, the Colorado State Patrol and 21 rural law enforcement agencies in 49 counties are mobilizing for a Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement period, April 2 – 8.  The enforcement is combined with a seat belt education campaign, aimed at dispelling the myths and excuses people make for not buckling up. 

         In 2011, 187 people were killed in crashes on rural roadways, representing 60% of the state’s total fatalities.  And more than half (58%) of those killed in rural areas were not wearing a seat belt, compared to 34% in urban areas.   One of the biggest reasons people give for not buckling up is that they aren’t traveling very far.   

        Drivers of pickup trucks have the lowest overall seat belt use at just 70%, compared to 82% in cars. Last year 67% of people killed in pickup trucks in Colorado did not wear a seat belt.  Pickup trucks are twice as likely to roll over in a crash, despite the belief that they are safer vehicles.  

        The increased seat belt enforcement will take place in the numerous counties including:  Baca, Bent, Crowley, Kiowa, Las Animas, Otero, Prowers. 

       During last year’s seven-day rural Click It or Ticket enforcement period, 1,148 seat belt citations were written.  Colorado has a secondary enforcement law for adult drivers and front-seat passengers. Drivers can be ticketed for violating the seat belt law if they are stopped for another traffic violation. Click It or Ticket enforcement focuses on speeding and aggressive drivers. Drivers who are stopped for a traffic violation and are not using a seat belt will be ticketed.  Seat belt fines are $65 per violation. 

      Colorado’s child-passenger safety law and its teen driver seat belt law are primary enforcement, meaning the driver can be stopped and ticketed if an officer sees an unrestrained or improperly restrained child in the vehicle or if a teen driver and their passengers are not buckled up.  The public can find more information about the law www.seatbeltscolorado.com and www.carseatscolorado.com.