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Nearly 7,000 Cited During CDOT's 'Click It Or Ticket' May Campaign

DENVER (CBS4) - The Colorado State Patrol and other local law enforcement agencies cited 6,942 motorists for not buckling up during the statewide Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign in May.

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, the Click It or Ticket campaign "reached 273,940 people on Facebook and received 15,276 post interactions" during the enforcement period from May 11 through May 31.

CDOT also used billboards, gas station and radio ads to reach more drivers.

"In 2013, 62 lives in Colorado could have been saved if all unrestrained passenger vehicle occupants five and older had been properly restrained," said Darrell Lingk, Director of the CDOT's Office of Transportation Safety in a statement. "Increased enforcement periods like the May Mobilization effort serve as a strong reminder to motorists that you should always buckle up, no matter where you are or how far you're traveling."

According to CDOT, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for Coloradans.

The next seat belt enforcement period will focus on driving at night and occur from July 20 to 26. But that doesn't mean law enforcement isn't still enforcing the seat belt laws.

Additional Information From CDOT

Colorado's Seat Belt Laws:

Adults – Colorado has a secondary enforcement law for adult drivers and front-seat passengers. Drivers can be ticketed for violating the seat belt law if they are stopped for another traffic violation. Click It or Ticket enforcement focuses on speeding and aggressive drivers. Drivers who are stopped for a traffic violation and are not using a seat belt will be ticketed. The minimum fine is $65.
Teens – Colorado's Graduated Drivers Licensing (GDL) law requires all drivers under 18 and their passengers, no matter what their age, to wear seat belts. This is primary enforcement, meaning teens can be pulled over simply for not wearing a seat belt or having passengers without seat belts.
Children – Colorado's child passenger safety law is primary enforcement, meaning the driver can be stopped and ticketed if an officer sees an unrestrained or improperly restrained child under age 16 in the vehicle.

For more information about seat belt safety and enforcement citation numbers, visit SeatBeltsColorado.com.

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