The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies will participate in extra patrols to enforce seat belt laws.

The seat belt safety blitz runs started Monday and continues through Sunday, May 28, according to the written announcement from the sheriff’s office. The Oregon Department of Transportation funds the extra patrol and operates the two-week program in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s annual “Click It or Ticket” campaign.

Oregon law requires all occupants to use safety restraints and children weighing less than 40 pounds to use a child seat or harness.

The sheriff’s office stated vehicle crashes are the leading cause nationwide of death for children ages 1-12, and vehicle occupants without a seat belt or proper restraint are five times more likely to be ejected during a crash.

You can find information on seat belt safety at www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TS/safetybelts.shtml.