Law enforcement cracks down on seatbelt use

Warmer months have arrived and that means more vehicles on the road—along with more chances for risky behaviors.

These include not wearing seatbelts, so law enforcement agencies have announced they will be watching.

Even more motorists are expected this summer as pandemic restrictions are lifted across the country.

Now through June 6, Wisconsin State Patrol will be among those monitoring for lack of seatbelt use.

“We’re glad to see people traveling again, and we want them to do it safely,” said Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary-designee Craig Thompson, in a statement. “The single, most important way motorists can protect themselves and their passengers is by making sure everyone’s buckled up for each and every trip.”

Wisconsin’s primary seatbelt law was passed in 2009. In 2020 alone, there were more than 27,000 traffic convictions related to this violation. Failure to fasten seatbelts is one of the most common traffic offenses.

Prior to that, seatbelt citations could only be issued if the motorists had already been stopped for another violation.

Data shows 89 percent of motorists swear seatbelts. The 11 percent who failed to buckle up accounted for 43 percent of crash fatalities last year.