April Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement cites 1,267 drivers

With the weather warming and spring bloom in effect, Coloradans are itching to begin their travel adventures. However, 905 drivers were met with a costly wake-up call during the recent April Wave Click It or Ticket enforcement period — a reminder it’s important to buckle up no matter where you’re going. 

From April 4-20, CDOT, Colorado State Patrol, and 60 law enforcement agencies partnered for this year’s first statewide Click It or Ticket enforcement period. A total of 932 drivers were cited during the enforcement, including 10 drivers who had an improperly restrained child under the age of 15 in their vehicle. 

The law enforcement agencies that issued the most citations were the Castle Rock Police Department (149 citations), the Loveland Police Department (116 citations), and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (105 citations).

This was the first Click It or Ticket enforcement period of 2022. The next enforcement period runs over Memorial Day, from May 16 to June 5. Historically, more fatal crashes happen on Colorado roads during the three months between Memorial Day and Labor Day than at any other time of year. 

“Great drivers wear their seat belts because they are the best defense against impaired, distracted, and aggressive drivers,” said Chief Matthew C. Packard, Colorado State Patrol. “Each of the 932 citations issued serves as a reminder — we want you to survive a crash! The choice to buckle up may be the one that saves your life.”

In 2021, 232 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants were killed on Colorado roadways.

“Seat belts reduce your risk of injury or death in a crash by 50%,” said Darrell Lingk, director of the Highway Safety Office at CDOT.  “Although most people make the right choice to buckle up, far too many don’t and that costs lives. Seat belts are an important safety measure that can save lives, so we want everyone to buckle up every trip, every time.”

Statewide, Colorado’s seat belt use is 86%, which is 4% lower than the national average of 90%. Without a seat belt fastened, people can be ejected from a vehicle and killed.

Learn more about Click It or Ticket enforcement and Colorado’s seat belt laws at codot.gov/safety/seatbelts.