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Police Begin Extra Seat Belt Enforcement

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Police departments across Michigan are bringing back the Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement campaign, starting Monday.

The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning says Click It or Ticket will run through June 6. That means the enforcement effort will include the typically busy Memorial Day weekend.

Lt. Michelle Robinson is a Public Information Officer with the Michigan State Police. She says there will be “zero tolerance," adding "we are out there. We are increasing patrols. We are going to be issuing citations for those individuals that are not following the law.”

In 2019, 217 of Michigan’s traffic fatalities involved not wearing a seat belt. There were 11 fatal crashes in Michigan over the Memorial Day weekend in 2019, with 13 deaths. Two of those fatalities involved a driver and a passenger who weren’t wearing a seat belt.

Lt. Robinson states "in 2019, the seat belt use rate was 94.4-percent, which is above the national average of 90.7-percent, and it’s saving lives.”

The fine for not wearing a seat belt is $65.

Scott Pohl is a general assignment news reporter and produces news features and interviews. He is also an alternate local host on NPR's "Morning Edition."
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