Buckle Up, Arizona: What “Click It or Ticket” Means

If you’ve noticed more patrol cars on local roads lately, it’s not your imagination.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS), along with the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office and other local agencies, participates in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) annual “Click It or Ticket” campaign.

Nationwide seat belt safety campaigns combine education with high-visibility enforcement; it’s a reminder to drivers that buckling up in a moving vehicle isn’t optional, it’s the law.

During the campaign, law enforcement officers from local and state agencies are increasing the number of traffic stops and taking a “no excuses” approach to issuing citations to passengers not wearing seat belts.

The Numbers Tell the Story

Have you ever wondered if it’s really worth wearing your seatbelt, if it really makes a difference in an accident? The short answer is: it does. The statistics are sobering. As of May 2025, AZDPS reported 101 fatal crashes, and 39 of the people killed were not wearing seat belts.

State and national education efforts have helped increase seatbelt use. Today, around 90% of drivers and passengers wear seatbelts. This is a major increase from decades ago, when seatbelt use was at or below 50%, as reported by AZCriminalTraffic.com.

There’s still a gap, and that leads to preventable deaths, especially on Arizona’s long, dark stretches of highway, and efforts like this are aimed at helping reduce those tragedies.

What Happens If You’re Not Wearing a Seat Belt?

According to Cooper Law Firm, Arizona has a secondary seat belt law. That means you can’t be pulled over just for not wearing one, but if you’re stopped for anything else, you can still get cited for not wearing a restraint.

The penalty is relatively small, and azleg.gov says it’s typically a $10 civil fine. However, the real cost of not wearing your seat belt can be much higher if you get into an accident.

In Cochise County, local deputies and the Arizona Highway Patrol are working together to ensure everyone is wearing their seat belts and to inform the public about this important safety effort.

Officers are looking for violations and the chance to educate drivers on proper restraint use. They’re not focused on handing out tickets. It’s more about raising awareness and saving lives on Arizona’s roadways.

Why It Matters on Arizona Roads

Seat belts are proven lifesavers, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that they can reduce the risk of death or serious injury by about 50% in a crash.

The “Click It or Ticket” campaign runs through the end of May, and by raising awareness, safety organizations are helping ensure everyone gets home safely.