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Motorists who fail to buckle their seat belts now through June 1 could face some hefty fines.

While law enforcement officers issue citations year-round for seat belt violators, hundreds of law enforcement agencies across Texas, including the Tyler Police Department, are participating in the “Click It or Ticket” enforcement mobilization from May 19 through June 1.

“We’re reminding all drivers, but especially pickup truck drivers to buckle up and make sure their passengers are buckled up,” said Col Thomas A. Davis, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

“Drivers think they are safer in pickups and other high-profile vehicles; but in reality, pickups roll over twice as often as passenger cars in fatal crashes.”

Since 1999, the Texas Department of Public Safety has had a zero-tolerance policy on seat belts and child safety seat violations.

Fines for failing to use a seat belt or to secure a child in a safety seat can range from $25 to $200, not including court costs.

“Texas law requires every person sitting in the front seat of a vehicle to wear a seat belt,” Tyler Police Department public information officer Don Martin said. “Drivers can be stopped and ticketed for a safety belt violation or if any of their passengers under the age of 17 are not properly restrained.”

He added that all children under the age of 17 years old must be secured in a safety belt even if they are in the back seat.

Children younger than 5 years old and less than 36 inches tall must be secured in a child safety seat.

According to DPS reports safety belt use in Texas continues to rise. In 2007, the compliance rate was nearly 92 percent.

A survey, taken in 2007 for the city of Tyler places safety belt usage at 93 percent, which is above the state average.

“Our true goal for safety belt use is 100 percent of all drivers and passengers, 100 percent of the time,” Davis said. “Wearing a safety belt is the cheapest form of insurance, so there is no excuse not to buckle up.”