COURTLAND—The 2012 national “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement effort is under way.

Southampton County Sheriff’s Office is joining with state and local police to enforce traffic laws and seat belt use.

Since 2008 there have been 11 fatalities of unbelted persons in Southampton County, 24 in Isle of Wight County and none in Franklin, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

“Seat belt use is just too important to ignore,” said Gene Major Drewery with the Southampton County Sheriff’s Office. “We want to stress that regularly buckling up works, and we know of too many cases, largely at night, that all too often ends in tragedy.”

“Click It or Ticket” runs through Sunday, June 3.