State Police join "Click it or Ticket"

RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY) - You may see more blue lights than usual on local interstates this weekend.

Virginia State Police are joining local police departments across the state in an effort to increase seatbelt use. Officers will step up patrols to catch drivers not wearing seat belts.

"The choice is a simple one - wear your seatbelt and reduce your chances of being injured in a crash,"  Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent, said. "Or, you can choose not to and pay the ultimate price - with your life - because you didn't take two seconds to fasten your seatbelt. It costs you nothing to buckle up - but the cost could be much greater for your family and your loved ones if you don't."

According to a release, from January 1, 2011 up to October 31,  257 individuals, not wearing their seatbelt, died in accidents in the Commonwealth.  Last year, 307 people lost their lives after getting into an accident and not buckling up.

"Rest assured, if our trooper stops you for a traffic violation and you aren't wearing a seatbelt, you will be given a summons," Flaherty added.

In 2010, Troopers issued 26,797 adult citations and 7,1365 summonses for failing to properly secure infants and children in a car seat.

The increased enforcement for the " Click It or Ticket " campaign begins November 13 and will run until November 20.