Law enforcement across Michigan participating in Click it or Ticket campaign

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – From May 20 through June 2, state, county, and local enforcement will check whether passengers are buckled up in the driver’s and front passenger seats.

Just two years ago, more than 200 people killed in traffic crashes were not wearing a seat belt. The enforcement of the Click It or Ticket Campaign is meant to help save more lives.

Seatbelts save lives. That’s the goal of the Click It or Ticket Campaign. Lieutenant Rene Gonzalez with Michigan State Police says wearing your seatbelt could be the difference between life and death.

“We’re going to be out there patrolling the roads, freeways, secondary roads along with other officers from city PD and counties and other state agencies, and they’re going to be patrolling looking for violators of the seatbelt law,” said Lieutenant Rene Gonzalez.

From 2020 to 2023, Michigan’s seat belt usage rate fell from 94.4% to 92.4%. Ingham County Sheriff Scott Wriggelsworth says the penalty for not wearing a seat belt extends beyond the $65 fine.

“The penalty just simply could be that you have this life-changing thing that you’ll have to deal with for the rest of your life,” said Scott Wriggelsworth. “And that’s going to be the penalty that was completely avoidable.”

Three seconds—that’s how long it takes to buckle your seat belt. For those sitting in the back, it’s just as important.

Rear-seat passengers are more than twice as likely to die in a crash if they aren’t buckled up. “It doesn’t matter where you are riding in a vehicle, whether it’s in the front seat, the rear seat, in the third row, a seat belt will save your life by keeping you in the seat,” said Peter Kurdock, Advocates for Highway & Auto Safety. “Individuals that aren’t wearing their belt and ejected from the vehicle suffer far worse injuries than those that remain belted in.”

Michigan has a primary seat belt law, which means you can only be stopped if the driver and front seat passengers are not buckled up.

That’s why the US Department of Transportation introduced a ruling to require car manufacturers to install seat belt reminders, especially in the rear seats.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that buckling up in the front seat can reduce the risk of serious injuries or death in a crash by 45%.

Subscribe to our News 10 newsletter and YouTube page to receive the latest local news and weather. Looking to hire people, or grow your business through advertising? Gray Digital Media is your one-stop marketing solution. Learn more.

Copyright 2024 WILX. All rights reserved.