Police Depts in Marshall County to increase patrols to target seatbelt enforcement

Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 10:00 PM

By Kathy Bottorff

Local law enforcement is hitting the roads with a clear message: buckle up or face a ticket. Police departments in Marshall County are partnering with the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) to take part in the national "Click It or Ticket" campaign, a high-visibility enforcement effort aimed at increasing seatbelt use across the state.

Beginning today and running through May 31, 2026, officers will work overtime patrols to ensure that drivers, passengers, and children are properly secured. The overtime enforcement is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through ICJI's Comprehensive Highway Injury Reduction Program (CHIRP).

"Buckling up is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect yourself and your loved ones on the road," said Douglas Huntsinger, executive director of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. "Seatbelts save lives every day, and every trip should begin with making sure everyone is secured before hitting the road."

Lt. Les McFarland with the Marshall County Sheriff's Department echoed that message with a local perspective. "Too often, we see tragedies that could have been prevented with one simple click of a seatbelt," he said. "Buckling up isn't just the law. It's a responsibility that helps ensure you make it home safely."

The campaign comes as Indiana continues to make progress on seatbelt safety. Since 2021, the state has seen a steady decline in fatalities among passenger vehicle occupants not wearing seatbelts. Seatbelt usage among Hoosiers reached 94.1% in 2025, according to the Annual Seat Belt Usage Survey conducted by Purdue University Center for Road Safety in partnership with ICJI — surpassing the national average of 91.2% reported in 2024.

Under Indiana law, drivers and all passengers are required to wear a seatbelt. Children under the age of eight must be properly restrained in a federally approved child car seat or booster seat. Drivers can be cited not only for their own lack of seatbelt use, but also for each unbuckled passenger under the age of 16.