Late last month, we warned readers that authorities were planning on conducting an expanded Click It or Ticket campaign from May 23 through June 5. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety recently tallied the numbers, and they uncovered that 7,233 individuals were cited for failing to wear a seat belt during the two-week campaign.
Although that seems like a lot of citations, it’s actually less than a similar campaign over the holiday weekend in 2015. That Click It or Ticket crackdown netted 7,393 seatbelt citations.
“Wearing a seat belt is just common sense and it’s the law, and thankfully most Minnesotans get it,” said Donna Berger, the director of the Office of Traffic Safety.
Increase In Child Restraint Tickets
Although fewer adults were ticketed for seat belt violations, more motorists were cited for failing to place their children in proper restraints. 213 individuals were cited for failing to place their children in age-appropriate restraints, including one mother who was cited with her 4-year-old on her lap while she drove. The 213 citations represented a 22 percent increase from the previous crackdown, which netted 175 child seat restraint violations.
More than 300 law enforcement agencies across the state participated in the annual crackdown, Here’s a look at which agencies issued the most citations to unbelted motorists:
1. Minnesota State Patrol – 2,501 citations
2. St. Paul police – 181 citations
3. Duluth Police: 122 citations
4. Dakota County Sheriff’s Office: 117 citations
5. Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office: 117 citations
6. Moorhead Police: 109 citations
7. Stearns County Sheriff’s Office: 105 citations
8. St. Cloud Police: 100 citations
9. Minneapolis Police: 98 citations
10. Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office: 96 citations
If you’ve been ticketed for a traffic violation, don’t ignore it. Doing so can lead to the loss of your driver’s license, so speak with a traffic ticket attorney today!
