May 19, 2003

Michigan law enforcement officials, concerned that safety belt use has stalled, unveiled plans to boost belt use by piloting new "safety belt enforcement zones" across the state on roads where crashes are high or belt use is low. Not only will enforcement get a fresh look, but a stronger enforcement message, Buckle Up or Pay Up, will be paired with the well-known Click it or Ticket slogan during a two-week ad blitz that started last week.

Today starts a two-week national safety belt mobilization that runs through June 1. Nearly 500 Michigan law enforcement agencies will join thousands of agencies across the country who are making safety belt enforcement a priority.

"The bottom line: people have to see the increased enforcement to believe it," said Colonel Tadarial J. Sturdivant, director of the Michigan State Police.

The retooled enforcement strategy and message are meant to increase the profile and visibility of safety belt enforcement efforts to bring about higher safety belt use.

Despite the best efforts of law enforcement and traffic safety advocates, Michigan’s safety belt use rate is 82.9 percent, slightly below the all-time high of 83.5 percent achieved in 2000 when the primary law took effect. The goal is 90 percent belt use by 2004 to further drive down traffic fatalities and serious injuries.

That’s where enforcement zones come in. The zones will be strategically located in populous areas where crash problems are prevalent or belt use is low. Special, portable "safety belt enforcement zone" signs will alert motorists they are entering an enforcement area, which will run from four to six hours. One officer will serve as a spotter who will radio unbelted motorist information to nearby marked patrol cars who will pull over offending motorists. Similar programs have been run in the past to detect speeding motorists and construction zone violators.

Zones will debut throughout the state – metro Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Bay City, Traverse City and the UP. Federal traffic safety funds administered by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning will pay for officer’s time.

The Drive Michigan Safely Task Force leadership has been meeting with community representatives to explain the rationale for this pilot and the enforcement zone procedures.

Detroit Police Chief Jerry Oliver discusses the safety belt enforcement effort.

The zones will be supported by grant-funded saturation patrols in other high population/high crash counties throughout the two-week mobilization. In addition, law enforcement officers from nearly 500 local and county agencies as well as Michigan State Police will make safety belt enforcement a priority. In November 2002, officers issued more than 19,000 safety belt citations during a similar safety belt crackdown.

"We believe enforcement zones will jump-start an increase in safety belt use that will mean an even greater number of lives saved and injuries prevented," Sturdivant added. "Enforcement is all about saving lives. This has the potential to be both an efficient and effective enforcement tool. While our methodology is somewhat different, I will still encourage zero tolerance enforcement."

A safety belt enforcement zone in action on Jefferson Avenue in Detroit.

The pilot will be evaluated to determine its effectiveness and drive future decisions on enforcement strategy.

Since the safety belt law changed in 2000, traffic fatalities have been on the decline. In 1999, there were 1,386 people killed in traffic crashes. In 2002, that number fell to 1,264 traffic deaths.

Over the three summer holidays last year, 58 people were killed in Michigan traffic crashes: 15 over Memorial Day weekend, 30 over the Fourth of July period and 13 during Labor Day weekend.

EDITORS: For an up-to-date listing of enforcement zone dates and locations, visit the OHSP website at www.michigan.gov/msp. Click on Services to Governmental Agencies, then select Office of Highway Safety Planning. Click on the Buckle Up or Pay Up logo.

Read more press releases from the Michigan State Police.