‘Click It or Ticket’

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) “Click It or Ticket” campaign began May 24 in Southeast Texas, with law enforcement officers training a keen eye on seatbelt infractions through the Memorial Day holiday.

In 2020, TxDOT reports, there was a 16% increase in deaths of unbuckled motorists on Texas roadways. There were 1,073 fatalities in 2020 and 926 fatalities in 2019 due to Texans not wearing seat belts. Putting on a seat belt only takes a few seconds and doing so reduces the risk of dying by up to 45% for people in the front seat of passenger cars and up to 60% for people in pickup trucks, the agency compels.

Through June 6, as the summer driving season starts and families head out to celebrate Memorial Day, Texas officers and deputies will step up enforcement of the state’s seat belt and child car seat laws. Texas law requires everyone in a vehicle to be properly secured in the front or back seat or face fines and fees up to $200. Children younger than 8 years old must be restrained in a child safety seat or booster seat unless they are taller than 4 feet 9 inches. If a child isn’t secured, the driver faces fines of up to $250.