Drivers, passengers and kids better be buckled up or in the correct child restraint as law enforcement personnel ramp up enhanced Click It or Ticket seat belt patrols May 24 through June 6. The campaign marks one year since the state’s primary seat belt law became effective June 9, 2009, allowing law enforcement to stop and ticket motorists solely for belt violations.

According to a press release, the primary law requires passengers in all seating positions, including the back seat, to be buckled up or seated in the correct child restraint. A seat belt fine is $25 but can cost more than $100 with court and administrative fees. The campaign will also include enforcement of Minnesota’s strengthened child passenger safety law that requires children to be in the correct restraint until they are age 8 and 4 feet 9 inches tall. This law requires booster seats for kids usually starting at age 4 to ensure adult seat belts fit them correctly.

“Our wish is to not have to write any seat belt tickets, but that’s not reality,” said Albert Lea Police Lt. J.D. Carlson. “Despite progress in increasing belt use it’s clear far too many motorists continue to not buckle up and as a result put themselves and others in the vehicle at risk in case of crash.”

Carlson noted that in rollover crashes, unbelted motorists are usually ejected from the vehicle. In most cases, the vehicle will roll over them. In less severe crashes, unbelted motorists will crack teeth out on steering wheels or break their nose, and even slam into and injure others in the vehicle.

“Enforcement of this law starts with you. Insist your passengers are buckled up,” Carlson said.

Each year, unbelted motorists account for more than half of all vehicle occupants killed. Belt use is especially an issue in Greater Minnesota communities.

Annually, nearly 80 percent of unbelted traffic deaths occur on Greater Minnesota roads. Belt use is especially poor among teens and young adults. Statewide each year, motorists age 15-29 account for 45 percent of all unbelted deaths, yet this group represents only 25 percent of licensed drivers.

This same age group accounts for 55 percent of all unbelted serious injuries — 70 percent occur in Greater Minnesota.

During 2006-08 in Freeborn County, 15 motorists were killed in traffic crashes and eight were not belted. Another nine unbelted motorists were seriously injured. In a recent pre-enforcement seat belt observational survey in Freeborn County, 87 percent of motorists were belted. Law enforcement agencies will conduct another survey following the enforcement to measure belt use.

The 2009 pre-enforcement survey resulted in 68 percent compliance; post-enforcement results were 82 percent. The primary law is a contributing factor increasing the 2010 pre-enforcement survey results.

The enforcement effort will also include a nighttime seat belt enforcement focus. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety reported during 2006-08, 277 motorists were killed during nighttime hours (9 p.m. to 3 a.m.) and of those killed, 178 (64 percent) were not belted.

In Minnesota during 2006-08, 1,097 motorists were killed in crashes and 539 were unbelted; 1,152 unbelted motorists were seriously injured. According to the Department of Public Safety, preliminary 2009 numbers indicate unbelted deaths accounted for at least 140 deaths, more than one-half of motorists killed.

In a similar seat belt enforcement last May and October, local law enforcement agencies issued 68 seat belt citations.

Around 400 law enforcement agencies statewide will participate in the effort coordinated by DPS as a component of the state’s Toward Zero Death initiative. Toward Zero Death is a multi-agency approach to address traffic issues regionally through enforcement, education, engineering and emergency trauma response.