ST. PAUL – In just one week, Minnesota law enforcement cited nearly 1,000 people for not wearing a seat belt or properly securing children. While buckling up is second nature to most, lack of seat belt use is still a leading factor in fatal crashes on Minnesota roads. That’s why the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) partnered with law enforcement for extra seat belt enforcement and awareness the final week of September.

“These citations serve as a powerful reminder for every driver and parent to pause and make a life-saving choice,” said OTS Director Mike Hanson. “The data is clear—seat belts and proper child restraints save lives. Stories like Morgan's, a mother who protected her daughters by securing them correctly, show the difference one decision can make.”

OTS coordinated the extra enforcement campaign Sept. 21-27 with 254 law enforcement agencies. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provided campaign funding for overtime enforcement and awareness in support of the Toward Zero Deaths traffic safety program.

Top agencies – seat belt citations

Metro-area citations

• 92: St. Paul Police Department
• 77: Minnesota State Patrol west metro district
• 60: Minnesota State Patrol east metro district

Greater Minnesota citations

• 65: Minnesota State Patrol Brainerd district
• 55: Minnesota State Patrol Virginia district
• 52: Minnesota State Patrol Duluth district
• 48: Minnesota State Patrol Thief River Falls district
• 39: Minnesota State Patrol St. Cloud district

Top agencies – child restraint citations

• 9: Minnesota State Patrol west metro district
• 6: Minnesota State Patrol east metro district
• 2: Rock County Sheriff’s Office
• 2: Marshall Police Department
• 2: Richfield Police Department

You can find the full results from the campaign online.

Be a kid’s hero; proper car seats have saved lives

OTS announced the extra seat belt enforcement campaign in September with the Minnesota Safety Council at the Maple Grove Fire Department. At the news conference, Jennifer Starkson shared how her grandchildren survived a deadly crash thanks to proper car seat use.

About the Minnesota Department of Public Safety

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s more than 2,400 employees operate programs in the areas of law enforcement, crime victim assistance, traffic safety, alcohol and gambling, emergency communications, fire safety, pipeline safety, driver licensing, vehicle registration and emergency management. DPS activity is anchored by three core principles: education, enforcement and prevention.