Michigan Police To Drivers: Click It Or Ticket

LANSING, MI — Michigan's 'Click It or Ticket' seat belt enforcement program began Monday, with law enforcement from around the state using the program as a deterrent for people who drive without wearing seatbelts.

The campaign runs until June 6. Police are conducting seat belt enforcement during the three-week stretch, which included Memorial Day weekend.

“So often, critical injuries and the loss of life on our roadways could have been prevented with the simple click of a seat belt,” said Michael Prince, the director of Michigan's Office of Highway Safety Planning. “Wearing a seat belt is the easiest and most effective thing you can do to reduce injuries and save lives. Buckle up every trip, every time.”

According to the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, 217 people killed in Michigan traffic crashes in 2019 weren't wearing a seat belt. Eleven of those crashes took place during the Memorial Day weekend and resulted in 13 deaths, according to the department.

Seat belt usage in Michigan in 2019 was at 94.4 percent, slightly above the national average of 90.7 percent, according to the department.

Michigan law requires drivers, front-seat passengers and passengers 15 and younger in any
seating position to be buckled up. The fine and associated costs for not wearing a seat belt is $65.

Children must be in a car seat or booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4’9” tall, and children under 4 years old must be in the back seat.