1,760 drivers cited during May Click It or Ticket

(COLORADO) — Colorado’s seatbelt usage has improved, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), though the state still falls beneath the national average. Citations from the May Click It or Ticket enforcement period show thousands were still caught driving without a seatbelt.

The Colorado State Patrol (CSP) partnered with 60 agencies across Colorado in May for heightened enforcement of seatbelt laws and cited nearly 1,800 drivers during the longest seatbelt enforcement period of the year. From May 13 to June 2, 1,760 drivers received tickets for not wearing a seatbelt or for having unbuckled passengers.

“If you don’t want to take three seconds to buckle up, we don’t mind taking a few minutes to issue a citation,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of CSP. “Make it a daily habit, not just because it is required by law, but because it is the best way to protect yourself in a crash.”

During the May campaign, 73 drivers were cited for improperly restrained children, and 125 teenagers were cited for not wearing a seatbelt. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the majority of teenagers involved in fatal crashes aren’t buckled up. CDOT encourages parents and caregivers to communicate the significance of seat belt safety to teens.

According to the 2023 Colorado Statewide Seat Belt Survey, the state’s seat belt usage reached a record high of 88.6%. However, this still falls below the national average of 92%. CDOT aims to maintain this growing trend in seat belt usage by encouraging compliance around the clock, throughout the entire year, not just during specific initiatives like the May enforcement period.

“While we are delighted to see a heightened sense of urgency about the importance of buckling up, we need to do more,” said CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk. “Many Coloradans still aren’t using their seat belts regularly. To reduce fatalities on Colorado roads, we must influence the behaviors of those around us and remind them that buckling up is their best line of defense in a crash.”

Counties and cities in Northern Colorado had the most citations for seatbelt violations during the May enforcement period, with the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office citing the most drivers at 120 citations.

The next Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement period begins July 22 and goes through August 2.

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