ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell University Police will be joining the second annual wave of the national "Click It or Ticket" mobilization, starting Sunday, April 18, and running through Saturday, April 24.

"Failure to wear a seat belt is against the law in this state. We enforce this law because it's the best proven way to save lives. If you won't buckle up to save your life, then buckle up to save yourself a ticket," said Sgt. Chuck Howard, traffic enforcement coordinator for Cornell University Police.

During this time there will be a "zero tolerance" approach to seat belt violations. Cornell Police officers will intensify enforcement of safety belt laws by setting up checkpoints and intersection patrols. Drivers and their passengers failing to use seat belts will be ticketed according to the law.

Cornell Police participates in the mobilizations because they work, Howard said. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) reported recently that child fatalities from traffic crashes have declined by 20 percent since 1997, when the mobilizations began. The DOT has credited the mobilizations with significantly contributing to this decline and for dramatically increasing child safety seat use.