BISMARCK – The North Dakota Department of Transportation has announced that law enforcement agencies throughout North Dakota will increase patrols from May 1 through June 2 as a part of the Click It or Ticket campaign in an effort to save lives and reduce traffic injuries, according to NDDOT information.

The campaign will focus on enforcing North Dakota’s seat belt law.

According to the news release, unbelted fatal crashes in North Dakota occur most often on rural roads and during weekend nights citing the most recent data collected by the state. Many of these fatalities involved males, who made up 79% of the unbelted traffic deaths from 2019-2023.

North Dakota’s seat belt law is now a primary enforcement law meaning drivers can be stopped and cited solely for not wearing a seat belt. The law mandates that all occupants, regardless of seating position, must be buckled up or in the appropriate child restraint.

In the news release, Surrey Police Chief Kevin Howe reminded drivers “one click can change everything. You never know which drive might be the one that changes your life.”

The release cited data which showed that belted occupants are more likely to escape crashes with minor or no injuries, while those unbelted face a much higher risk.