Evanston police will be cracking down on drivers and passengers this week who fail to wear their seat belt for a statewide “Click It or Ticket” campaign, the city announced.

The Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police and hundreds of local law enforcement departments in the state will participate in the campaign, which started Monday. In January 2012, an Illinois law mandated people wear seatbelts while sitting in all positions of the car, not just the front seat.

While nearly 95 percent of drivers and front seat passengers buckle up, only 84 percent of rear seat passengers use seatbelts, according to a 2014 statewide survey by IDOT.

The campaign lasts until May 25, encompassing Memorial Day weekend, during which there were 12 vehicle-related deaths in 2014.

“Memorial Day weekend kicks off the busy summer driving season, and we want to ensure that everyone arrives at their destination safe and sound, ” Evanston traffic bureau sergeant Tracy Williams said in a news release. “Our officers are prepared to ticket anyone, front or back seat who is not wearing a seat belt.”

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