A ‘click it or ticket’ seat belt enforcement campaign in Colorado resulted in 2,428 citations.
The Colorado Department of Transportation supported the Colorado State Patrol and 60 local law enforcement agencies for the largest seat belt enforcement period of 2025 from May 12 to June 1.
During the three-week period, law enforcement increased patrols and focused on issuing citations to unbuckled drivers, with an emphasis on Colorado’s new seat belt and car seat laws.
The 2,428 total citations given marked a 36% increase from the same enforcement period last year. Additionally, 206 drivers received a citation for having an improperly restrained child in their vehicle under the age of 18, a 178% increase from the 74 citations given in 2024.
Updates to Colorado’s child passenger safety law took effect January 1 this year, raising the age requirement for seat belt use from under 16 years of age to under 18 years of age.
The updated law also now requires children to use a car seat or booster seat until their 9th birthday when riding in a passenger vehicle, and children under the age of two and below 40 pounds are required to sit in a rear-facing car seat.
“Historically, traffic fatalities rise during the summer months as weather improves and the days get longer,” said CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk.
“That’s why it’s important to wear your seat belt during all car trips. Seat belts can protect your life during any type of crash.”
