'Click It Or Ticket': Police Ramp Up Seatbelt Enforcement Through Nov. 9

DETROIT (WWJ) - Nothing can be scarier than seeing those red and blue flashing lights in your rear-view mirror.

With seatbelt compliance in Michigan dropping from 98 to 93 percent, police in metro Detroit and across the state are ramping up their latest "Click It or Ticket" campaign — this time with Halloween theme.

Local police departments, sheriff offices and Michigan State Police posts in 26 counties will add patrols designated enforcement zones through Nov. 9,  watching for seatbelt compliance, drunken driving, and other wrongdoing on the road.

"Seatbelts are your best and primary defense in the event of a crash, zombie-related or not," said Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) director Michael L. Prince, referencing a TV spot that reminds motorists that seatbelt "keeps you safe, and could protect you from zombies."

However, at a news conference Monday, Wyandotte Police Chief Daniel made it clear that law enforcement takes that issue of seatbelt use very seriously.

"While you will receive a ticket if you are not buckled up, that is not the objective of this effort," said Grant. "We are here today to tell you about this stepped enforcement effort so you make potentially life-saving decisions and use your seatbelt."

Grant says a drop of just one percentage point in seatbelt compliance equals ten people losing their lives, and 130 more seriously injured in crashes.

"Some people may think that seatbelt use  is something that only affects one individual, but anyone who has ever lost a loved one in a crash will certainly tell you differently," Grant said.

Michigan law requires drivers and front seat passengers to be buckled up as well as passengers 15 and younger in any seating position. Children must be in a car seat or booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall.

Law enforcement officers from more than 140 agencies in Allegan, Berrien, Calhoun, Chippewa, Delta, Eaton, Genesee, Grand Traverse, Houghton, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Livingston, Macomb, Marquette, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, St. Clair, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne and Wexford counties are participating.

The stepped up patrols  are federally funded.