August 30, 2003

While students are heading back to the books, law enforcement officers in 31 counties will be heading back to the zones – safety belt enforcement zones - to once again strictly enforce the state’s safety belt law through the Buckle Up or Pay Up, Click It or Ticket mobilization.

Nearly 150 Michigan law enforcement agencies will make safety belt enforcement a priority starting today through Sept. 12 as part of a statewide safety belt enforcement mobilization. This is the first statewide traffic enforcement effort over the Labor Day period since 2001.

Last Labor Day, 12 people were killed on Michigan’s roadways; four of them were not wearing their safety belts. A similar effort at the start of summer boosted belt use to nearly 87 percent, a record for Michigan. The increase will prevent an estimated 20 traffic deaths over a one-year period.

"Twenty lives does not sound like a lot unless you are a family member of one of those 20 individuals saved, then it becomes your whole world," said Michael L. Prince, division director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning.

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. This two-week enforcement period will include more than 650 safety belt enforcement zones.

"Safety belt enforcement zones are making a difference in Michigan," said Colonel Tadarial J. Sturdivant, director of the Michigan State Police. "It is this kind of highly visible enforcement that is saving lives."

What began as a pilot program in May 2003 in eight counties has become Michigan’s standard for enforcing the state’s safety belt law.

"While we’ve had a dramatic increase in belt use this year, we’re not finished yet," Prince said. "Michigan has a goal of reaching 90 percent safety belt use in 2004. That additional 3 percent means 30 lives saved and almost 400 crippling injuries prevented."

Michigan law requires all drivers and front seat passengers to be buckled up and children under age 4 to be in an approved child safety seat. It also requires passengers 15 and younger to be buckled up in all seating positions.

Counties receiving federal traffic safety dollars for special overtime enforcement include: Allegan, Bay, Berrien, Calhoun, Cheboygan, Eaton, Genesee, Grand Traverse, Ingham, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Leelanau, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Marquette, Mason, Midland, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Ogemaw, Ottawa, Saginaw, St. Clair, Van Buren, Washtenaw and Wayne.

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

Read more press releases from the Michigan State Police.