Ky. police launch seat-belt enforcement campaign

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Kentucky officials believe the number of highway fatalities in the state could be reduced with greater seat-belt use and hope to make improvements with an annual enforcement campaign.

"Click It or Ticket" starts Monday and runs through June 5, and state and local law enforcement officials will be making sure people take the seat-belt law seriously.

Louisville police Lt. Doug Sweeney says city police will be patrolling around the clock and that motorists should expect a ticket if they are found unbelted.

The national rate of seat-belt use is 84 percent, but the state says Kentucky lags behind at 80 percent.

The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety has awarded more than $368,000 in federal funds to 73 police agencies across the state to help improve seat-belt enforcement during the effort.