DENVER (KDVR) -- The Colorado Department of Transportation said more than 2,400 citations were written over seat belt violations during a recent enforcement period from May 12 to June 1.

The three-week-long seat belt enforcement period was part of the national "Click It or Ticket" campaign, the agency said on Wednesday.

“Historically, traffic fatalities rise during the summer months as weather improves and the days get longer. That’s why it’s important to wear your seat belt during all car trips,” said CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk, in a statement. “Seat belts can protect your life during any type of crash.”

The Colorado agencies with the highest number of seat belt citations during the enforcement period were:

• Thornton Police Department - 99 citations
• Larimer County - 259 citations
• Loveland - 367 citations

CDOT said the Colorado State Patrol also issued 1,023 seat belt citations during the enforcement period.

More seat belt citations than last year

The grand total of 2,428 seat belt citations given out during the enforcement period was a 36% increase from the same Click It or Ticket enforcement period from last year, according to CDOT.

Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the CSP, said in a statement that fatalities are down in "nearly every" traffic category compared to the same time last year, including unbuckled fatalities.

"It's great news, but we as a state need to keep buckling up until there are no traffic fatalities caused by a lack of seat belts," Packard said.

The next Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement period will go from July 21 to Aug. 1.