Highway deaths are up this year - more than 60 people have died on Wyoming roadways so far in 2019. This time last year, there were only 27 fatalities.
Wyoming Highway Patrol Sergeant Jeremy Beck said one of the main reasons for these deaths is a lack of seat belt usage in the state.
"The latest statistics that we have so far is 63 percent of people are still dying in rollover crashes and not wearing their seat belts," said Beck.
This week, the Wyoming Highway Patrol, the Governor's Office, and a variety of other state and local agencies affirmed their support for the "Click it or Ticket" campaign. The campaign focuses on safety education and strong laws, and through the first weekend of June patrol officers will be cracking down on motorists who don't wear their seat belts.
At a press conference Monday, Lieutenant Colonel Shannon Ratliff said that it might even be time to partner with legislators to get a primary seat belt law passed.
"I understand that choosing to wear or not wear your seat belt is a choice. I'm the last one to want to limit a person's freedom, but isn't the investment worth it? What is a life worth?" said Ratliff.
Currently, people in Wyoming cannot be pulled over for not wearing a seat belt and can only get ticketed for it if they have already committed another violation, like speeding.