State Police Launch Buckle Up New York Campaign

It’s a well known rule of the road, but police say some people are still driving without a seat belt.

To make sure drivers comply with the law, state police are starting their ‘Buckle Up New York’ campaign once again.

The 14 day program starts Monday with traffic stops and more patrols.

If you’re caught without a seat belt on, the fines can be hefty.

“Fines today can range from $25 to $100 and can be up to three points on your license,” said New York State Police Captain Darrin Pitkin.

In 1984, New York State became the first state to enact a mandatory seat belt law, the law became effective in 1985.

State police officials say compliance with the seat belt rule has been getting better, but there are still motorists who need to follow the law.

“Last year alone, one quarter of the people killed in New York state in traffic accidents were not wearing their seat belts. On a national level that number rose to almost 50 percent and a closer examination - a lot of these accidents reveals that if people had been wearing their seat belts, several of these people would still be alive today,” said Pitkin.

Under New York State law:

All front seat occupants must be properly secured, regardless of age;

All rear seat passengers under 16 years of age must be properly secured;

Children under the age of 4 must be properly restrained in a federally approved child safety seat that is attached to a vehicle by a seat belt or universal child restraint anchorage (LATCH) system.

Children less than age 4 but weighing more than 40 pounds may be restrained in a booster seat with a combination lap/shoulder seat belt.

Children ages 4, 5 and 6 must be properly secured in an appropriate child restraint system, one for which the child meets the height and weight recommendations of the child restraint manufacturer. Children more than 57 inches tall, OR weighing more than 100 pounds, are exempt from this requirement, and may be secured in a seat belt.

Children riding in booster seats must be secured with a combination lap/shoulder seat belt, unless one of the two following conditions exists:

the vehicle is not equipped with lap/shoulder seat belts*, or all lap/shoulder seat belts are already being used to restrain other passengers under the age of 16.*

*If either of these conditions exists, the child should be secured in a lap belt without the booster seat. In other words, never secure a child in a booster seat with only a lap belt.

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