GARLAND, TX — The Garland Police Department announced they are ramping up efforts to promote road safety through the Click It or Ticket campaign, running from May 19 to June 1. This initiative, in collaboration with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), aims to enforce seat belt and child safety seat regulations to reduce serious injuries and fatalities from vehicle crashes.
Importance of Seat Belt Use
Texas law mandates that all drivers and passengers, including those in the back seat, must wear a seat belt. Violators face fines and court costs of up to $200 per person. Additionally, children under eight years old are required to be secured in a child safety seat or booster seat unless they exceed 4 feet 9 inches in height. Drivers who fail to properly restrain children could incur fines of up to $250 plus court costs.
Despite a high compliance rate—91% of Texans buckle up—over 1,000 unrestrained drivers and passengers tragically lost their lives on Texas roads in 2024, underscoring the critical need for enforcement.
#EndTheStreak A Vision Zero Initiative
The Click It or Ticket campaign is part of TxDOT’s larger initiative, known as #EndTheStreakTX, TxDOT’s version of Vision Zero. Vision Zero aims to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries while promoting safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for all. TxDOT emphasizes that since November 7, 2000, Texas has experienced at least one traffic-related death every day, highlighting the urgent need for change.
