Larimer County Sheriff's Office Leads State in May Click Here or Ticket Enforcement

Lina Portman2 weeks ago

0 4 minutes read

1,760 drivers cited during the Click It or Ticket Ticket mobilization period in May

Larimer County Sheriff's Office issued the most citations

Statewide – The days are getting longer and warmer, prompting Colorado residents to get outside and enjoy the sun. With more travelers on the road, the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and 60 partner law enforcement agencies held the longest seat belt enforcement period of the year, starting May 13 to June 2.

The Click It or Ticket mobilization in May resulted in 1,760 drivers being fined for not wearing a seat belt or unbuckling passengers. The Colorado Department of Transportation is overseeing implementation of the campaign. During the campaign, 73 drivers were cited for children improperly restrained in their vehicles. Additionally, 125 teens were cited for not wearing seat belts. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the majority of teens involved in fatal crashes are not wearing seat belts. CDOT encourages parents and guardians to communicate the importance of seat belt safety to adolescents.

According to preliminary data, the law enforcement agencies that issued the most citations during the enforcement period were the Larimer County Sheriff's Office (120 citations), the Loveland Police Department (108 citations), the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (81 citations), and the Lakewood Police Department (77). The Colorado State Patrol issued 758 citations.

Caption: CDOT data graph showing agencies with the most citations during the May 2024 wave enforcement period. Number of citations: Larimer County Sheriff's Office: 120; Loveland PD: 108; Jefferson County Sheriff's Office: 81; Lakewood PD: 77. Source: Seat Belt Enforcement Reporting Portal

“Our efforts to enforce the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of the port of this device (TAT) allows motorists to reassess their priorities allows motorists to reassess their priorities. 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 the Colorado State Patrol. “Make it a daily habit, not only because the law requires it, but also because it is the best way to protect yourself in the event of an accident.”

The summer travel season can be particularly dangerous. Last year, 277 fatal crashes occurred on Colorado roads between May and August, accounting for 38 percent of the year's total fatalities. Wearing your seat belt is the best way to protect yourself in the event of an accident. Buckled up helps you stay safe in your car. On the other hand, failing to buckle up puts you at risk of being ejected from the vehicle during a collision, which is almost always fatal. Another misconception is that having airbags in a vehicle means you don't need to wear a seat belt. However, airbags are intended to work with seat belts and not to replace them. Without a seat belt, the impact of an airbag can cause serious injury or death.

According to 2023 In Colorado's statewide seat belt survey, seat belt use in the state reached an all-time high of 88.6 percent. However, this figure remains below the national average of 92%. CDOT aims to maintain this growing trend in seat belt use by encouraging compliance 24 hours a day, throughout the year, not just during specific initiatives like the May mobilization.

“While we are pleased to see an increased sense of urgency about the importance of buckling up, we need to do more,” said Darrell Lingk, director of CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety. “Many Coloradans still do not use their seat belts regularly. To reduce the number of deaths on Colorado's roadways, we must influence the behaviors of those around us and remind them that buckling up is their best line of defense in the event of an accident.

In Colorado, seat belt violations start at $65, and parents or guardians caught with an improperly restrained child will receive a minimum fine of up to $82.

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

Colorado Seat Belt Laws

Teens — Colorado's Graduated Driver's License (GDL) law requires all drivers under the age of 18 and their passengers, regardless of age, to wear seat belts. This is primary enforcement, which means teens can be stopped simply for not wearing a seat belt or having passengers without seat belts.

Children — Colorado's Child Passenger Safety Act is a primary enforcement, meaning the driver can be stopped and ticketed if an officer sees a child under 16 years old unrestrained or improperly restrained in the vehicle.

About Click It or a ticket

Click It or Ticket is a national NHTSA campaign. Since Click It or Ticket was introduced in Colorado in 2002, seat belt use statewide has increased from 72 percent to 89 percent. For more information on seat belt safety and enforcement citation numbers, visit SeatBeltsColorado.com.

About CDOT

The mission of the Colorado Department of Transportation is to provide the best multimodal transportation system that moves people, goods and information in the most efficient and safe way. CDOT maintains more than 23,000 miles of highway lanes, more than 3,400 bridges and 35 mountain passes. Our team of employees works tirelessly to reduce the rate and severity of accidents and improve the safety of all modes of transportation. CDOT relies on partnerships with a range of private and public organizations and operates Bustang, an inter-regional express bus service. Find more details at codot.gov