JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com/NDDOT) – To save lives, law enforcement across the state will have extra patrols from May 22 to June 4 for the Click It or Ticket campaign enforcing the state seat belt law.

Until Aug. 1, North Dakota’s seat belt law will remain secondary enforcement, meaning law enforcement can only issue a seat belt citation when a driver is pulled over for a different infraction and found not to be wearing a seat belt. Occupants in the front seat must be buckled up, regardless of age. All occupants younger than 18 must be properly restrained regardless of their location in a vehicle.

“A seat belt is the single most effective way to protect yourself and your loved ones in a crash,” said Jamestown Police Chief Scott Edinger. “Click It or Ticket is about educating the public on seat belt benefits and changing behavior.”

Preliminary data for 2022 shows that 69% of crash fatalities were unbelted where seat belts were present in the vehicle. Seat belts save lives, that’s why North Dakota’s seat belt law is changing. Beginning Aug. 1, the seat belt law becomes a primary enforcement, meaning no other violation is required for a driver to be pulled over by law enforcement and issued a seat belt citation. The law will also require all occupants to wear a seat belt, regardless of where they are sitting in the vehicle.

The Click It or Ticket campaign is a part of the Summer H.E.A.T. (Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic) strategy and Vision Zero initiative to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on North Dakota roadways. Summer H.E.A.T. will take place through August to encourage everyone to wear a seat belt, use appropriate child passenger safety seats, follow all posted speed limits, and drive sober and distraction-free.