UNBELTED DRIVERS STILL RISKING LIVES

Dec 2

By Minnesota Department of Public Safety

Law enforcement issued 967 seat belt citations, 37 child restraint citations during extra enforcement campaign

In just one week, Minnesota law enforcement cited nearly 1,000 people for not wearing a seat belt or properly securing children. While buckling up is second nature to most, lack of seat belt use is still a leading factor in fatal crashes on Minnesota roads. That's why the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) partnered with law enforcement for extra seat belt enforcement and awareness the final week of September.

"These citations serve as a powerful reminder for every driver and parent to pause and make a life-saving choice," said OTS Director Mike Hanson. "The data is clear-seat belts and proper child restraints save lives. Stories like Jourdan's, a mother who protected her daughters by securing them correctly, show the difference one decision can make."

OTS coordinated the extra enforcement campaign Sept. 21-27 with 254 law enforcement agencies. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provided campaign funding for overtime enforcement and awareness in support of the Toward Zero Deaths traffic safety program.

TOP AGENCIES - SEAT BELT CITATIONS

Metro-area citations

92: St. Paul Police Department

77: Minnesota State Patrol west metro district

60: Minnesota State Patrol east metro district

Greater Minnesota citations

65: Minnesota State Patrol Brainerd district

55: Minnesota State Patrol Virginia district

52: Minnesota State Patrol Duluth district

48: Minnesota State Patrol Thief River Falls district

39: Minnesota State Patrol St. Cloud district

Top agencies — child restraint citations