NATCHEZ — When Tammy Ryden’s daughter died in an auto accident in 1999, Ryden had no idea her daughter’s death would become her life’s work.

Ryden’s 15-year-old daughter, Rachel, died because she was not wearing a seat belt, Ryden said.

So not long after her daughter’s death, Ryden, who now lives in Oklahoma, started traveling the country to implore people to buckle-up.

“I think if she (was wearing a seat belt), she’d be here today,” Ryden said.

And on Tuesday morning, Ryden met with members of several local law enforcement agencies including the Adams County Sheriff’s Office and the Natchez Police Department to implore them to write as many citations as possible for those not wearing seat belts.

“I believe tickets can and will change behavior,” Ryden said. “When enforcement goes up, compliance goes up.”

Ryden said when officers and deputies have an opportunity to stop a driver for not wearing a seat belt, they should, because it could be the only chance they get.

“You may never have the chance to speak to that person again,” she said.

Deputies and officers at Tuesday’s meeting also heard from representatives of of Public Safety on the importance of grants, which fund programs that target drunk drivers and those not wearing seat belts.

“It’s an important part of what we do,” Adams County Deputy David Nations said of the grants.

In May the ACSO used a state grant to fund an initiative to target those not wearing seat belts, and is preparing to use a $35,000 grant to target drunk drivers this Fourth of July weekend.

Nations said starting Thursday several checkpoints will go up across the county in an effort to apprehend drunk drivers.