'Click It or Ticket' Campaign Continues This Weekend

A busy season of barbecues, graduation parties and trips Up North is about to kick off and, in anticipation, the national Click It or Ticket campaign continues this weekend.

Officers from more than 200 Michigan law enforcement agencies will work to enforce the state's seat belt law, which requires all drivers, as well as passengers in the front seat or who are 15 or younger, to buckle up. The intiative started Monday.

"Michigan has a primary seat belt law, which means law enforcement can stop and ticket motorists solely for not being buckled up," according to the Michigan State Police website.

Fenton Police Chief Rick Aro said the department won't have an officer assigned to patrol for seat belts.

"All officers will be keeping an eye out, however," Aro said. "They will be looking for drunk drivers as well."

An enforcement zone was set up at noon Monday on M-59 west of Old U.S. 23 near in Hartland. About a dozen tickets had been issued by 2:30 p.m., said Livingston County Sheriff's Deputy Anthony Clayton.

"A lot people think wearing it under your arm is OK … if you wear the belt under your arm, it's still going to get a ticket. A lot of people don't know that," Clayton said.

The law also says children must ride in a car seat or booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4'9" tall, whichever comes first. Those who do not comply could face a $65 fine.

The campaign, which is federally funded, will use daytime seat belt enforcement zones and nighttime roving patrols, according to information Spencer provided. Click It or Ticket lasts through June 5.

In Livingston County, the enforcement will be done throughout the summer, police said.