‘No breaks’ in 2-week seat belt crackdown

The Governor’s Council on Impaired and Dangerous Driving announced a two-week law enforcement crackdown specifically targeting unrestrained and impaired drivers that began June 27. \nAll passengers of any motor vehicle are required by law to wear a seat belt, no matter their age or seat position in the vehicle, according to legislation that went into effect Sunday.\nThis enforcement project is being funded by $15.7 million in federal money that was granted to Indiana solely for the use of safety and road improvements, said Michael Cunegin, executive director of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.\nThe Indiana State Police Department has a zero-tolerance seat-belt policy and is not permitted to write warning tickets for seat-belt violations, State Police Sgt. Dan Jones said.\n“If you get caught not wearing it, you’re getting a ticket,” he said. “No breaks.”\nCitations for seat belt violations are $25, according to the Bloomington City Clerk’s Office. Refusal of payment after 60 days will result in a suspended driver’s license. If paid on time, seat belt citations do not lead to points being deducted from driver’s licenses. \nAccording to a press release from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, there are 200 law enforcement agencies participating in the two-week crackdown that will conduct sobriety checkpoints and additional patrols.\n“Don’t drink and drive, wear your seat belt, be safe with the fireworks; just use common sense,” Sanders said.\nPolice officers are scheduled for their regular hours, and for this heavy enforcement, overtime shifts are offered for officers that will specifically target dangerous driving, Jones said.\nA heavy influx of traffic will come for July 4, Bloomington Police Department Sgt. Joseph Sanders said.\n“During the summer it’s hot, and people will be cooling off and drinking alcohol,” he said. “That may cool them off, but it’s also going to impair them – so they should have a designated driver, stay home, stay at their campsite or wherever they’re going to be.”