May 17, 2007

EAST LANSING. Next week Michigan State Police (MSP) troopers will be paying extra attention to safety belt violators during Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) All-American Buckle-Up week. Buckle-Up Week coincides with the nationwide Buckle Up or Pay Up, Click It or Ticket mobilization that also begins on Monday and runs through June 3, 2007.

"As we lead up to the Memorial Day holiday weekend, State Police troopers will join not only law enforcement officers here in Michigan, but also our counterparts at other state police and highway patrol agencies across the country to focus on safety belt use," stated Colonel Peter C. Munoz, director of the MSP. "Michigan is proud of our record-high safety belt use rate of 94.3 percent because it has attributed to a reduction in traffic fatalities on our roadways, and we want to continue this trend."

With mileage restrictions in place, troopers will be parked in highly visible locations throughout the week, prepared to take enforcement action.

All American Buckle Up week officially begins at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 21, and runs through midnight on Monday, May 28, 2007.

Operation C.A.R.E. is a nationwide traffic safety initiative that began in 1977. It includes state police and highway patrol agencies from all 50 states and Canada. All-American Buckle-Up week is the first of six Operation C.A.R.E. holiday enforcement periods that occur throughout the year.

Note: During All-American Buckle-Up Week, the media is encouraged to contact their local Michigan State Police post for the latest in holiday traffic information.

Read more news releases from the Michigan State Police.