May 15, 2026 - The Texas Department of Transportation’s annual Click it or Ticket campaign has begun. Increased enforcement will occur from Monday, May 18, through Sunday, May 31.
Studies show 1 in 10 Texans do not take the simple step of buckling up — that’s more than 3 million people. Law enforcement will be increasing during this period, increasingly watching out for people not wearing their seat belt.
In the nine counties of the Lufkin District (Angelina, Houston, Nacogdoches, Polk, Sabine, San Jacinto, San Augustine, Shelby and Trinity), drivers and passengers not being buckled in is the second leading cause of fatalities and serious injuries.
In 2025, 81 of the crashes in the Lufkin District involved unrestrained occupants, resulting in 28 deaths and 66 serious injuries.
Texas law requires all drivers and passengers to buckle up or face fines and court costs up to $200. Children younger than 8-years-old must be in a child car seat or booster seat unless they’re taller than 4 feet 9 inches. If they aren’t properly secured, the driver faces fines up to $250 plus court costs.
Seatbelts save lives!
