Law enforcement officers were out in full force Thursday as part of a “Click It or Ticket” campaign, which was set up at the intersection of Bell Road and South 11th Street in Niles.

Despite signs posted to alert drivers, Deputy Mark McKie with the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department said members of several area departments, including Baroda, Bridgman and Coloma, were keeping busy.

“Still, we write lots and lots of tickets,” McKie said.

In just about an hour and a half, McKie estimated catching at least 20 motorists not wearing their seat belts.

According to Sgt. Shawn Martin with the Baroda-Lake Township Police Department, which organized the campaign that was hosted by the Niles Township Post, 15 people died over the Memorial Day holiday last year.

In 2010, Martin said, more than half of the people who died in traffic crashes in Michigan were not wearing seat belts.

During their monitoring of the South 11th Street area, McKie said he was seeing a lot of senior citizens and passengers among those not wearing their seat belts.

Law enforcement were also finding motorists committing other violations, including running a red light.

“Click It or Ticket” mobilizations are executed throughout Michigan.

Those found not wearing their seat belts receive tickets, with fees and costs amounting to $65.

According to information presented by Martin, federal traffic safety funds are supporting extra enforcement in 35 counties in Michigan. Area officers will concentrate on seat belt enforcement through the holiday weekend and into the beginning of June.

The state’s rate of seat belt use is down from a record high of 97.9 percent to 95.2 percent and male occupants of pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles rank among the lowest rate of seat belt use.