05/11/2026
PRESS RELEASE for Upcoming Seatbelt Enforcement Operations...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 05/01/26
CONTACT: Chief Damian Flowers, 503-749-2188. [email protected]
Seat Belts Saves Lives
Buckle Up May 18 – May 31, and Every Day
Aumsville, Oregon — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is urging drivers to buckle up ahead of the Click It or Ticket seat belt safety campaign. The national high-visibility seat belt enforcement effort, which coincides with the Memorial Day holiday, runs May 18-31, 2026.
“Oregon enacted it’s seatbelt laws in 1988,” said Chief Flowers. “ It’s now 2026, so 38 years of required seatbelt use in Oregon should not be an afterthought.” During the Click It or Ticket campaign, we’ll be working with our fellow law enforcement officers across Marion County to ensure the message gets out to drivers and passengers. Not buckling up could mean a ticket, or worse, risking your life.
In 2024, there were 9,758 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes. The national seat belt use rate in 2024 was 91.2%, which is good — but it can be better. The other 8.8% still need to be reminded that seat belts save lives. Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night.
One of the focuses of the Click It or Ticket seat belt campaign is nighttime enforcement. NHTSA data shows a higher number of unrestrained occupant fatalities happen at night (56% between the hours of 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m.). Of the males killed in crashes in 2024, more than half (53%) were unrestrained. For females killed in crashes, 41% were not buckled up.
Buckle Up the Right Way
• Place the shoulder belt across the middle of the chest and away from the neck.
• Lay the lap belt across the hips and not the stomach.
• NEVER place the seat belt behind the back or under arms.
“After teaching seat belt safety courses for many years, it is safe to say seatbelts really do save lives.” said Chief Flowers “Always remember to buckle up.”
For more information on the Click It or Ticket seat belt high-visibility enforcement campaign, please visit NHTSA.gov/ClickIt.
