The Albert Lea Police Department and Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office, along with more than 300 law enforcement agencies across the state, kicked off a statewide Click It or Ticket campaign Monday.

The effort is coordinated by the Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety and runs through June 2.

“We’ve heard the argument, ‘It should be my choice to buckle up,’” said Albert Lea Police Department Lt. Jeff Strom. “But before you decide not to wear that belt, think of those children who didn’t have the choice to live without their mother or father. Or the spouse who will raise their children on their own. All because someone made the selfish choice to not wear their belt. You can’t choose who else is on the road with you, but you can choose to protect yourself by buckling up.”

According to a news release, most Minnesotans are making the decision to buckle up.

The 2018 Minnesota Seat Belt Survey found 92.4% of front seat occupants are wearing their seat belts; however, that means more than 7% of motorists are not doing so.

The release stated 172 unbelted motor vehicle occupants experienced life-changing injuries in 2018.

Of the deaths that occurred where people were not wearing seat belts, 70 percent occurred in Greater Minnesota.

The release states unbelted motorists can crash into a windshield and get thrown into other passengers, and oftentimes, unbelted occupants are ejected from the vehicle and killed.

Minnesota law states that drivers and passengers in all seating positions must be buckled or seated in the correct child restraint. Officers will stop and ticket unbelted drivers or passengers. Seat belts must be worn correctly — low and snug across the hips, and shoulder straps should never be tucked under an arm or behind the back.

The Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement and education is a component of the state’s Toward Zero Deaths program.