Tulsa Police To Ramp Up Seatbelt Enforcement In October

The Tulsa Police Department will be focusing on seatbelt and child restraint enforcement during the month of October.

TPD said the Riverside Division Traffic Unit will be randomly monitoring areas within the Riverside Division throughout the month. The Riverside Division is west of Sheridan Road and south of 11th Street, just east of Peoria Avenue. 

A citation issued for not properly wearing a seatbelt is $20 and fine for not using a proper child restraint is $25; no warnings will be issued.

Police said they want to remind drivers to use their seatbelts at all times, properly restrain any child passenger, remain alert, refrain from using all electronic communication devices and heed all warning signs while driving.

"By following these reminders you and your passengers will reduce the likelihood of being injured or killed in a vehicle collision.  It is the goal of the Riverside Division Traffic Unit to reduce the frequency and severity of collisions occurring within the city of Tulsa," TPD said in a news release. 

The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety recently released the fatality report for August 2016, and 67 people died in traffic-related fatalities in August, up 15 compared to August 2015 numbers. 

Of the 67 deaths, 51.2 percent of those who died in traffic collisions were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, according to the report.