Coloradans Challenged to Start the Habit to Buckle Up or Risk a Ticket

Click It or Ticket Enforcement May 24 – June 6

Denver, CO – In an effort to save lives on the state’s roadways, the Colorado State Patrol and 88 law enforcement agencies across the state are joining the nationwide Click It or Ticket mobilization, May 24 through June 6. During the two-week Click It or Ticket campaign, law enforcement agencies are using federal grants from the Colorado Department of Transportation to conduct increased enforcement of Colorado’s seat belt and child passenger safety laws.

In 2009, 175 people were killed in traffic crashes in Colorado who were not buckled up. Colorado’s seat belt use rate is 81%, which is below the national average. According to a survey conducted for CDOT last year, 47% of respondents who did not buckle up reported they did not use them because they forgot or never developed the habit.

To encourage Coloradans to start the habit of wearing a seat belt, six cities – Colorado Springs, Denver, Grand Junction, Greeley, Montrose and Pueblo – have issued proclamations in support of the “2-Week, 2-Second Start the Habit Challenge.” Coloradans are challenged to take two seconds to buckle up every time they get in a vehicle over the two-week Click It or Ticket enforcement period with a goal to establish a habit that will continue over a lifetime.

“We are trying to remind people that using a seat belt takes hardly any time at all,” said Pamela Hutton, CDOT’s chief engineer and governor’s representative for highway safety. “It takes two seconds to buckle up and save a life. This is not a major time commitment nor does it require a lot of planning. You just have to reach over your shoulder and click your seat belt. We want people to get in that habit.”

“The warnings are already out there, so expect a ticket if you or your young passengers are not buckled up,” said Col. James Wolfinbarger, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “The message is tough, but we know lives will be saved, so it’s worth it. If people heed the warnings, hopefully law enforcement won’t have many seat belt citations to write or deadly crash scenes to investigate.”

As another reminder to buckle up, giant seat belts have been installed on buildings around the state and will be on display through the enforcement period. The City and County Building in Denver has a 40-foot tall seat belt strapped around its pillars. A seat belt is displayed at Saint Mary’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Grand Junction, on the brand new city parking structure in downtown Pueblo, and in Montrose on the County Administration building.

The Click It or Ticket campaign also includes local and national advertising, which is supported by national funding. Reminders of the special enforcement are also displayed on variable message boards across the state.

Colorado law requires all drivers and front seat passengers to wear seat belts. The minimum fine is $65 per violation. The driver is also responsible for properly restraining young passengers in the front and back seats. The minimum fine for violating the state’s child passenger safety law is $82. For information about properly restraining children in the appropriate car seat or booster seat, visit www.carseatscolorado.com.