Lincoln Police to Boost Seat Belt Enforcement
Officers will step up seat belt patrols citywide from November 5 through November 30, 2026, as part of a national Make It Click campaign.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Law Enforcement
Lincoln police will increase seat belt enforcement across the city from November 5 through November 30, 2026. The project is funded by a grant from the Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office.
Why it matters
Nebraska's 2025 seat belt use rate was 81.7%, below the national rate of 91.3%, and 70 of the state's 236 traffic deaths that year involved people not wearing seat belts. The campaign targets evenings, weekends, and the Thanksgiving holiday, when belt use may be lower.
Lincoln police enforcement is scheduled to begin November 5, 2026, and run through November 30, 2026. Results of the enforcement period have not yet been reported.
The players
Lincoln Police Department
The municipal police agency serving Nebraska's capital city, which is conducting the seat belt enforcement effort.
Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office
The state office that administers federal highway safety grants and is funding the Lincoln enforcement project.
The details
Officers will focus on evenings, weekends, and the Thanksgiving holiday during the campaign, which is part of the national Make It Click effort. Grant funding from the Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office supports the project.
Timeline
November 5, 2026: Lincoln seat belt enforcement campaign begins.
November 30, 2026: Lincoln seat belt enforcement campaign ends.
2025: Nebraska recorded 236 traffic fatalities, 70 of them unbelted.
Law Enforcement Context
The Lincoln effort continues the Click It or Ticket model, which pairs targeted belt enforcement with public messaging to raise restraint use. Seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury by about 45% for front-seat passenger vehicle occupants and up to 60% for light-truck occupants.
Drivers and passengers in Lincoln should expect increased seat belt checks during evenings, weekends, and the Thanksgiving holiday from November 5 through November 30, 2026. Buckling up before every trip is the most direct way to avoid a citation and reduce injury risk.
The takeaway
Wearing a seat belt on every trip, including short drives and holiday travel, is among the most effective steps a driver can take to reduce fatal injury risk.
What happens next
Lincoln police's seat belt enforcement campaign runs November 5 through November 30, 2026.
Further reading
Find more coverage of traffic enforcement efforts in the Law Enforcement section.
