Click It Or Ticket | Video

Sarahbeth Ackerman | 11/15/2012

North Dakota Highway Patrol is reporting a big increase in the number of fatal crashes in the northwest part of the state. So far this year, there have been 63 fatalities.

A lot of those fatalities were due to the drivers and passengers not wearing a seatbelt. In order to to reduce the number of crashes. The Highway Patrol is raising awareness about the importance of wearing a seat belt by conducting a one day enforcement period called "Click it or Ticket."

"The crashes are more a direct correlation with the road conditions as well and so when road conditions deteriorate which they can, really quickly and rapidly that`s when we do see our numbers go up. Depending on when the snow even occurs, but, and when coupled with the increase travel numbers of people that are out on the roadways we are seeing, normally over the holidays, especially when we have any moisture event of visibility issues, crashes go up," said Captain Gary Orluck.

If a person over the age of 18 is not wearing a seat belt, it`s a $20 fine.

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