AUSTIN — Starting Monday, May 21, law enforcement officers across Texas will launch a "Click It or Ticket" enforcement campaign.
While buckling up has become a habit for many Texans, hundreds of people don't do it. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, in 2017, 929 people who weren't buckled up died in traffic crashes.
More than half of those deadly crashes -- 57-percent -- happened at night. Researchers at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute looked at driving habits in 18 Texas cities and found seatbelt usage decreases by 50-percent at night.
In addition to being the law in Texas, TxDOT officials say buckling up is the single most effective thing a person can do to protect themselves in a crash.
Police officers, sheriff's deputies and state troopers across Texas are going to be on the lookout for people not wearing their seatbelts. The "Click It or Ticket" enforcement campaign starts Monday, May 21 and runs through Sunday. June 3.
A driver or passenger found not wearing a seatbelt could be issued a citation that will cost up to $200 in fines and court costs. Children younger than 8 years old or shorter than 4-feet-9 inches must be in a child safety seat or booster seat. If not, the driver will face a fine of $250.