Failing to wear a seat belt in 2025 is a lot like smoking cigarettes. Although you are free to make your own decisions, we clearly understand the health risks associated with smoking cigarettes or failing to buckle your seat belt.
Most people in the US understand that seat belts save lives, and just last year we reached an all-time high seat belt usage rate in America at 92.5%. You would think that this would mean citations for unbelted driving would be few and far between during seat belt enforcement and awareness week in Minnesota, but the numbers don’t lie. Nearly 1,000 people were cited for not wearing a seat belt or for failing to properly secure a child in a vehicle during the enforcement campaign, which ran from Sept. 21-27. 254 law enforcement agencies across the state took part in the enhanced crackdown.
“These citations serve as a powerful reminder for every driver and parent to pause and make a life-saving choice,” said OTS Director Mike Hanson. “The data is clear—seat belts and proper child restraints save lives. Stories like Morgan’s, a mother who protected her daughters by securing them correctly, show the difference one decision can make.”
Funding for the campaign was provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Seat Belt Citations By Agency
Officials tracked which departments handed out the most citations during the crackdown. Here’s a look at the citation data from the Twin Cities metro area and from Greater Minnesota:
Twin Cities Citations
- St. Paul Police Department – 92
- Minnesota State Patrol West Metro District – 77
- Minnesota State Patrol East Metro District – 60
Greater Minnesota Citations
- Minnesota State Patrol Brainerd district – 62
- Minnesota State Patrol Virginia district – 55
- Minnesota State Patrol Duluth district – 52
- Minnesota State Patrol Thief River Falls district – 48
- Minnesota State Patrol St. Cloud district – 39
Across all agencies, the Minnesota State Patrol west metro district handed out the most citations for child restraint violations, with nine, followed by the east metro branch with six.
Although the base fine for a seat belt violation in Minnesota is only $25, the total cost of the ticket can climb over $100 when court assessments and other fees are added to the mix. And even if $100 won’t break the bank, buckling up is one of the simplest things you can do to protect your wallet from a ticket and to protect your body in the event of a crash. Nobody expects to be in an automobile accident, but it happens to people every single day. Buckle up, and let’s set a new record for seat belt use in 2025.
If you need help contesting a traffic citation or a driving-related arrest, connect with Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277.
