Sheriff Ezell Brown and the Newton County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is reminding drivers and passengers to wear their seat belts as the national Click It or Ticket campaign kicks off. This high-visibility seat belt enforcement effort, which aligns with the busy Memorial Day holiday, will run from May 19 to June 1, 2025.

“Wearing a seat belt should be second nature for every driver and passenger,” said Sheriff Ezell Brown. “It’s not just about following the law — it’s about saving lives. During this campaign, we’ll be working alongside local and state law enforcement agencies to drive this message home. Buckling up is the simplest, most effective step you can take to protect yourself in a crash. Unfortunately, we’ve seen the devastating consequences when people choose not to wear a seat belt — many of those tragedies could have been prevented.”

In 2023, the national seat belt usage rate during the day was 91.9% — a strong number, but there’s still room for improvement. The remaining 8.1% represent lives at risk. During Click It or Ticket, law enforcement will be taking a zero-tolerance approach to seat belt violations, issuing citations both day and night.

A key focus of the campaign is nighttime enforcement, when seat belt use typically drops and fatalities among unrestrained passengers increase. According to NHTSA data, more than half (53%) of male crash victims in 2023 were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, compared to 41% of female crash victims.

“If this campaign helps even one person realize the life-or-death importance of buckling up, then we’ve made a difference,” added Sheriff Brown. “We’re encouraging everyone to look out for one another — remind your friends and loved ones to buckle up, every time. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Seat belts save lives.”

For more information about the Click It or Ticket campaign, visit NHTSA.gov/ClickIt.