As of Thursday, state law enforcement has amped up ticketing those driving above the posted speed limit.

“Obey the Sign or Pay the Fine” is a safety initiative from the N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program and represents intensified enforcement of posted speed limits statewide.

“Speeding translates to death on our roadways. It greatly reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around another vehicle, a hazardous object or an unexpected curve,” GHSP Director Don Nail wrote in a press release. “We want to help our state and local law enforcement get out their message ‘Obey the Sign or Pay the Fine’ to reduce fatalities.”

In 2015, speeding was a contributing factor in 23 percent of all fatal crashes in North Carolina and 322 lives were lost in such crashes, the release stated. Five speed-related deaths occurred during last year’s “Obey the Sign or Pay the Fine” campaign.

The initial GHSP announcement for “Obey the Sign or Pay the Fine” warned drivers that driving a few miles per hour over the speed limit can earn a ticket, however, Public Safety Secretary Frank Perry later said it would be up to troopers on the road, using “reasonable discretion,” to enforce the traffic laws.

Washington Police and Fire Services Director Stacy Drakeford said Washington police would be doing something extra for the initiative, but their participation is in the planning stage.

Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Charlie Rose said the office is aware of the program, but deputies aren’t being asked to increase traffic enforcement.

“We do enforce traffic violations when we see them, but that particular campaign is probably going to be more geared toward the state guys than any of the locals,” Rose said.

According to the press release, 86 percent of all speeding-related traffic fatalities occur on local roads, where the posted speed limits are 55 miles per hour or under. An accident on a road with a speed limit of 65 mph or greater is more than twice as likely to result in a fatality than a crash on a road with a speed limit of 45 or 50 mph, according to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The “Obey the Sign or Pay the Fine” campaign runs until April 3.