Police agencies across the state of Michigan are preparing to ramp up seatbelt enforcement through the end of May.
Law enforcement agencies -- ranging from local to state police -- will focus on enforcing seatbelts starting Monday, May 20. Their “Click It or Ticket” campaign will run through Sunday, June 2, taking particular aim at Memorial Day weekend, when a lot of drivers are expected to be on the road.
Michigan State Police say the increased enforcement is “designed to save lives” by reminding drivers, and certain passengers, to wear their seatbelt. The holiday weekend is of particular concern, since there were nearly two dozen fatal crashes during the 2022 Memorial Day weekend, MSP reports.
About 50% of the 25,420 people killed in passenger vehicles in the U.S. in 2022 were not wearing seat belts, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The organization also says seat belts are estimated to have saved more than 374,000 lives between 1975 and 2017.
Michigan State Police did not clarify where law enforcement would specifically target their seat belt enforcement through Memorial Day weekend. Members of the state police department, local police departments, and county sheriffs’ offices are expected to carry out “high-visibility enforcement” throughout the state, officials said.
Seatbelts are required for drivers, front-seat passengers, and all passengers aged 15 or younger under Michigan law. Those found violating the law may be fined $65.
Michigan law also requires children who are 8 years old or younger, or shorter than 4 feet and 9 inches tall, to ride in a car seat or booster seat.