May 24, 2004

With the unofficial start of summer just days away, law enforcement officers in nearly 200 agencies are launching an unprecedented number of safety belt enforcement zones that will crisscross the state in an effort to substantially increase safety belt use.

More than 500 Michigan law enforcement agencies will make safety belt enforcement a priority through June 6 as part of a national Click It or Ticket safety belt enforcement mobilization. That will include nearly 800 safety belt enforcement zones throughout the two-week enforcement period.

What began as a pilot program in May 2003 with only 130 zones has been greatly expanded to include 48 counties where nearly 800 enforcement zones will reach 90 percent of the state’s population.

"We are committed to increasing safety belt use in Michigan," said Colonel Tadarial J. Sturdivant, director of the Michigan Department of State Police. "Visible enforcement of the primary safety belt law is meant to do one thing, save lives."

While Michigan’s safety belt use rate hit a record high 85 percent in 2003, other states have reached or exceeded 90 percent. The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP), which is coordinating this statewide effort, has set a goal of attaining 90 percent compliance this year.

"This dramatically increases zone presence in northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula and intensifies enforcement in the state’s population centers," said Michael L. Prince, OHSP division director. "We hope for a very high level of compliance with the safety belt law, and as a result will issue few citations."

Safety belt enforcement zones are conducted on roadways where crash problems are prevalent or belt use is low. Special, portable "safety belt enforcement zone" signs will alert motorists they are entering an enforcement area. One officer will serve as a spotter who will radio unbelted motorist information to nearby marked patrol cars or motorcycles that will pull over offending motorists.

Zones debuted last spring in metro Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Bay City, Traverse City and the Upper Peninsula. Following their success, the program was expanded over the Thanksgiving holiday to include 13 new locations, expanding the effort from eight to 20 counties. In November, the 20 counties conducted approximately 217 zones over the two-week period. In May 2003, 130 enforcement zones were conducted in pilot areas.

Counties receiving funding for special overtime enforcement include: Allegan, Alpena, Bay, Berrien, Calhoun, Charlevoix, Chippewa, Clinton, Crawford, Delta, Dickinson, Eaton, Emmet, Genesee, Gogebic, Grand Traverse, Ingham, Ionia, Iron, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Leelanau, Lenawee, Livingston, Mason, Mackinac, Macomb, Marquette, Menominee, Midland, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Oceana, Ogemaw, Ottawa, Saginaw, St. Clair, St. Joseph, Schoolcraft, Shiawasee, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne and Wexford.

A day-to-day listing of enforcement zones as well as results will be posted at www.michigan.gov/ohsp.

Additional enforcement campaigns will take place throughout the summer. A drunk driving crackdown is scheduled June 25 through July 11 and a second safety belt enforcement effort is slated for Aug. 30 through Sept. 12.