Five of nine people who died in traffic fatalities were not wearing seat belts during crashes this year in Rutherford County.

One of the people who died was a baby who was not secured in a child seat.

That’s why the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office will join other law enforcement agencies in the Click It or Ticket campaign during these two weeks to enforce the seat belt law. The campaign encourages drivers and passengers to buckle their seat belts while riding in a vehicle.

Sheriff’s Capt. David Hailey, who supervises the patrol division, said deputies will saturate areas of the county to watch for drivers not wearing seat belts during the Memorial Day holiday and the following weekend.

Besides enforcing the seat belt laws, the deputies will emphasize DUIs and speeding.

“Any and all infractions relating to traffic will be enforced,” Hailey said.

Of the four remaining fatalities, two people wore seat belts, one was a motorcyclist and one was a pedestrian.

Tennessee Department of Safety reported three more people lost their lives this year as compared to this time last year in Rutherford County.

The Governor’s Highway Safety Office will pay for the overtime funds for the deputies.