CDOT begins Click it or Ticket enforcement period

(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) started its Click It or Ticket (CIOT) summer seatbelt campaign on Monday, July 22.

Don’t let a seatbelt citation get in the way of enjoying your summer, starting July 22 through Friday, Aug. 2 there will be increased awareness and enforcement of Colorado’s seatbelt law.

“This summer Colorado State Troopers are doubling down on our education and enforcement of seat belt use because we know that the decision to buckle up can save your life. If these numbers aren’t a wake-up call, a citation may be the reminder you need to be responsible with your life and those you transport,” said Col. Matthew Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “While folks rush to work or run an errand, no one plans to be in a crash. Do your part to ensure every person in your vehicle.”

During the last two CIOT enforcement periods, 3,201 citations were handed out. In 2023, 2,999 citations were issued during the enforcement periods in May and April, 52% higher than in 2022.

Last year, nine counties in Colorado — including Eagle, Summit, and Las Animas counties — reported that all of their passenger vehicle deaths involved people who were not using seat belts.

Colorado law requires the driver and every front-seat passenger of a motor vehicle and autocycle to wear a seatbelt whenever the vehicle is in operation on a street or a highway.

“Colorado’s seat belt usage rate is trending upwards, but it is still far below the national average. As a state, we must continue to improve our usage, which should, in turn, reduce traffic fatalities,” said CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk. “This is a serious matter and a simple way to protect yourself in a crash.”

There was an 8% decrease in unbuckled fatalities in 2023 compared to 2022 as more people were buckling up, according to CDOT surveys. All types of vehicles saw improvements in seat belt usage.

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