The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety is urging drivers to buckle up ahead of a national Click It or Ticket seat belt safety campaign. The national high-visibility seat belt enforcement effort, which coincides with the Memorial Day holiday, runs May 19 to June 1, 2025. During this time, state, municipal, and county law enforcement agencies will be actively looking for proper seat belt usage. 

In Maine, the observed seat belt usage rate stands at an impressive 93.8%. However, there remains a notable 6.2% of individuals who still choose not to wear seat belts despite the obvious safety benefits. 

“We want to impress upon this group, the critical importance of proper seat belt usage, as it is a proven fact that wearing seat belts saves lives,” said Lauren Stewart, Highway Safety director. 

The penalties in Maine for not wearing a seat belt are as follows: a first offense results in a fine of $50, while second and subsequent offenses result in steeper fines of $125 and $250 respectively. These financial penalties serve as a deterrent and a reminder of the legal responsibility drivers and passengers have, to ensure their safety.  Properly worn seat belts are designed to work together with other safety systems in your car, like airbags. The seatbelt keeps the occupant in a stable position, allowing the airbag to deploy effectively and cushion the impact.  

One focus of the Click It or Ticket seat belt high-visibility enforcement campaign is nighttime enforcement. Data shows a higher number of unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities happen at night. In Maine, the nighttime seat belt usage rate is only 89.6% which is notably lower than the overall usage rate during the day. 

The chart below shows the number of unrestrained fatalities that Maine has seen between 2022 and 2024. The data for 2024 is preliminary so it is subject to change. 

In addition to highlighting the importance of proper seat belt usage, the Bureau wants to remind you that Memorial Day kicks off the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer, a time when there is a statistically significant increase in fatal crashes, particularly those involving teen drivers. This is largely due to increased travel, school being out, and higher rates of risky driving behaviors like speeding, distracted driving, and impaired driving.  Be a role model for these young drivers and ensure that you wear your seat belt, drive distraction-free and be a safe, responsible driver so that everyone can have a safe and happy summer and “Survive Their Drive”. 

For more information on the Click It or Ticket seat belt high-visibility enforcement campaign, please visit NHTSA.gov/ClickIt.