As Memorial Day approaches, the Normal Police Department is urging drivers to buckle up — not just for their safety, but to avoid a ticket.
The department is joining law enforcement agencies across the country in the annual “Click It or Ticket” campaign, a seat belt enforcement effort running from May 16 to May 27. Officers will be out in full force, taking a no-excuses approach to drivers and passengers who fail to wear seat belts, day or night.
Illinois has come a long way in seat belt compliance. The state enacted its seat belt law on July 1, 1985 — becoming the third in the nation to mandate seat belts for drivers and front-seat passengers over the age of eight. In 2003, lawmakers strengthened the statute, allowing officers to stop and cite drivers solely for not wearing a seat belt. Since then, usage rates have soared.
In 1985, just 15.9% of Illinoisans wore seat belts. Today, that number stands at 92.4%.
Still, authorities say there’s more work to be done. The campaign will place special emphasis on nighttime patrols, when fatal crashes are more likely to involve unrestrained passengers. In 2023, 72% of male passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes were not wearing seat belts, compared to 28% of female occupants, according to state crash data.
The “Click It or Ticket” campaign is supported by federal highway safety funds and administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation. More information is available at ItsNotaGameIllinois.com.
