You should buckle up every time you get in the car, but you’ll want to be extra sure all riders are buckled up when Minnesota police begin their annual seat belt crackdown on Friday.
The enforcement campaign runs from Friday through September 30, and it’s part of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Click It or Ticket campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of not wearing a seat belt.
“Most Minnesotans are buckling up and that’s so encouraging,” said Office of Traffic Safety director Mike Hanson in a statement. “What’s very discouraging and sad is the tremendous amount of heartache and pain over lives lost in unbelted crashes … We really need each Minnesotan to take a long look at what’s most important in their lives and drive smart to stay alive.”
Avoid A Ticket
Not only can a seat belt help save lives, but it can also help prevent a costly ticket. A standard seat belt violation is $25, but once court fees are added to the ticket, it can easily run over $100. It also depends on where you are ticketed. For example, in Itasca County, a seat belt violation is $110, and it bumps up to $135 if it’s a child restraint violation.
This enforcement is also a reminder that children should be secured in the proper restraint. Once a child is eight years old or reaches a height of 4’9”, they are allowed to use a seat belt without additional seating. Until then, make sure they are in the appropriate seating for their age, weight and height.
Finally, it’s also worth noting that kids become responsible for their own seat belt before they are legally able to drive. The driver of a vehicle will be cited if any passengers 14 and under are not wearing a seat belt when riding in a car, whereas any passengers over the age of 15 will be ticketed directly by the officer. So even if you’re not driving, know that you can be ticketed if an officer sees you not wearing a seat belt.
If you need help challenging a seat belt violation or another traffic citation, reach out to the experienced lawyers at Appelman Law Firm, and please make smart decisions during and after the enforcement. Don’t end up with a costly ticket or become another crash statistic because you didn’t wear your seat belt. For questions or help with your case, give Avery and the team at call today at (952) 224-2277.
