Law enforcement officers across Minnesota have made it clear that if they catch residents driving without a seat belt, they can expect a ticket, and it appears Minnesotans are listening.
Statistics from the most recent “Click It or Ticket” campaign, which ran from October 9 through the 25th, revealed that 5,500 motorists were cited for failing to wear their seat belt. While that number is still very high, it’s way down from a year ago when 8,195 motorists were cited during the October “Click It or Ticket” campaign. The 2015 numbers show a 33 percent drop from last year.
One person who buckles up every time she gets in the car is 17-year-old Kianna Stewart of Red Wing, who fell asleep at the wheel last year. Stewart said she would have been killed had she not buckled up.
“A seat belt is a decision that could save your life. If I wasn’t wearing mine, I don’t think I would be here to tell people to put one on,” said Stewart. “This wouldn’t have ended the way it did. I don’t think I would’ve had a chance to survive. I would have been rolled over by my car if I wasn’t kept in by my seat belt.”
Minnesota Seat Belt Tickets
Under Minnesota Law, failing to wear a seat belt is a primary offense, which means that an officer can stop a driver or a passenger if they spot them in a vehicle without wearing a seat belt. A seat belt ticket costs $25, but it can add up quickly with administrative fees or if you have multiple seat belt citations on your records.
Additionally, you are responsible for making sure your children are buckled up when they are in the car with you. A driver will be ticketed for all unbelted passengers who are 14 or younger, but officers will directly ticket any unbelted passengers who are at least 15 years of age. Additionally may be added fines for failing to put young kids in proper child or booster seats.
