Manatee Sheriff's Office to step up enforcement for 'Click It or Ticket' campaign

MANATEE -- Beginning Tuesday, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office will be stepping up enforcement on drivers not wearing their seat belts through the "Click It or Ticket" campaign.

According to a release, the campaign will last until March 14.

"National statistics show seat belt usage saves thousands of lives each year," the release states. "Unfortunately, drivers who don't buckle up are at a far greater risk of injury and death."

According to the sheriff's office, teenagers have the lowest seat belt use of any age group and latest national statistics show more than half of young adults involved in fatal car crashes were not wearing seat belts.

The Sarasota Police Department also announced Monday that it is joining law enforcement agencies from around Florida and around the country to step up Click It or Ticket activities.

"Research shows that lap/shoulder seat belts, when used, reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45% and the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 50%, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration," said police spokeswoman Genevieve Judge.

Sarasota police will have patrol officers look for impaired or intoxicated drivers, seat belt and child restraint violators, aggressive drivers, speeding violations, texting violations and every day traffic violations, according to a release.

This story was originally published February 29, 2016 at 4:48 PM with the headline "Manatee Sheriff's Office to step up enforcement for 'Click It or Ticket' campaign ."