MONROE - Area law enforcement agencies and hundreds of other agencies statewide will be increasing enforcement of seat belt violations starting this week through June 1.
The campaign spans across most law enforcement and is geared towards enforcing the mandatory seat belt law. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, about one in five motorists do not wear a seat belt while driving or riding. However, all of Wisconsin's neighboring states have about one in 10 not buckling up.
In more than half of the fatalities in vehicle accidents in 2012, drivers and passengers were not wearing seat belts.
Chief of Monroe Police Fred Kelley said he and the officers under him value this campaign because they are the ones who have to inform family members of their loved ones lost to a crash.
"We must deliver this tragic news even when we know that a safety belt could have prevented that injury or death," Kelley said in an email.
-Tom Holm
The campaign spans across most law enforcement and is geared towards enforcing the mandatory seat belt law. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, about one in five motorists do not wear a seat belt while driving or riding. However, all of Wisconsin's neighboring states have about one in 10 not buckling up.
In more than half of the fatalities in vehicle accidents in 2012, drivers and passengers were not wearing seat belts.
Chief of Monroe Police Fred Kelley said he and the officers under him value this campaign because they are the ones who have to inform family members of their loved ones lost to a crash.
"We must deliver this tragic news even when we know that a safety belt could have prevented that injury or death," Kelley said in an email.
-Tom Holm