CLICK IT OR TICKET!  = BUCKLE UP!

Spring Arbor Township Police Department is warning motorists in Spring Arbor Township, Jackson County to buckle up or be prepared to pay - up to $65.00 - as they crack down on unbuckled motorists throughout the Memorial Day holiday period.

Michigan reached 92.9% safety belt use in 2005 the highest safety belt use rate ever!!  "Spring Arbor Township Police Department will be conducting safety belt enforcement this Memorial Day holiday period to continue to bring up usage rates," said Chief Russell Ratkiewicz. The SAPD is joining more than 500 Michigan law enforcement agencies in a crackdown on unbuckled motorists as part of the national Click It or Ticket mobilization, May 22-June 4, 2006.

The state's mandatory safety belt law requires the driver and front seat passengers to be buckled up, and children under age 4 to be in an approved child safety seat. It also requires passengers up to and including age 15 to be buckled up, in front or rear seating positions. In addition, drivers or passengers who have a shoulder harness placed under their arm or behind their back can be ticketed for failure to properly buckle up.

According to the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP), up to 50 lives could be saved and 653 injuries prevented each year if the state's safety belt use rate increased from its current 85% to 90%.

"This campaign isn't about writing tickets, it's about saving lives. But our Officers would rather pull out their ticket books than pull another body of an unbuckled motorist out of a fatal crash," said Chief Russell Ratkiewicz. "If you won't buckle up to save your life, then buckle up to save yourself a ticket". 

Past mobilization efforts have resulted in drunk driving arrests, stolen vehicle recoveries, and numerous felony and misdemeanor warrent arrests.

Proper Safety Belt Usage:

• Make sure all drivers and passengers buckle up every trip. Safety belts increase your chance of surviving a crash by 50%.

• Proper use for a person at least 4'9" and 80 pounds:

-Shoulder belt snugly over shoulder.

-Lap belt low on hips.

• Proper use for a youngster under 4'9" and 80 pounds:

-Ride in a properly secured car seat or booster seat appropriate to age.

-Michigan law requires children under age 4 to be in a properly installed car seat, and children ages 4-15 must be buckled up at all times.

-Safety experts recommend that infants younger than age 1 ride in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat.

• Improper safety belt use can lead to death or serious injury in a crash.