‘Click It or Ticket’ enforcement to increase this Memorial Day weekend

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office will be stepping up their enforcement of the state’s seat belt laws at the end of May.

Authorities said in a news release it will happen from May 21 to June 3.

When the “Click It or Ticket” campaign launched in 2002, only 76 percent of Texans used their seat belts, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Now seat belt use in Texas has increased, to nearly 92 percent in 2017.

“At 60 m.p.h., if you’re not wearing your safety belt and you crash, it’s like falling from 12 stories up,” a video from the campaign said.

Texas law requires everyone in a vehicle to be properly buckled up or face fines and court costs up to $200. Children younger than 8 must be in a child safety seat or booster seat unless they’re taller than 4 feet 9 inches.

Even if occupants are not properly restrained, the driver faces fines of up to $250, plus court costs.

929 unbuckled Texans still died in traffic crashes last year, officials said.