Beginning Monday, the Marion Police Department will join other Kansas law enforcement agencies in an attempt to curb teenage deaths in automobile accidents.

In 2010, 51 teens were killed in car crashes; 75 percent of those teenagers were not wearing seatbelts.

Marion Police officers will be extra vigilant when patrolling around schools. Officers will issue citations to any individual who disobeys traffic laws, which includes seat belt violations.

Seat belt fines for adults are $10; for children passengers or teen drivers they are $60.

“Even one teen death is unacceptable,” Marion Police Chief Tyler Mermis wrote. “Please slow down, put the phone away, and always buckle up.”