Tri-County Traffic Safety Partnership Warns of Operation Belt Up Patrols along with Impaired Driving enforcement

This month the Tri-County Traffic Safety Partnership will join law-enforcement agencies across the state to increase enforcement of seat-belt laws for Operation Belt up. Highly visible patrols will be watching for unrestrained passengers in cars and trucks, both children and adults, the front seat and back, both day and night.

Operation Belt Up promotes a coordinated effort to improve occupant protection strategies, and reduce injuries and fatalities related to seat belt usage. Overtime police patrols are paid with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration funds administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI).

“Why are police warning everyone before the seat-belt crack-down begins? Because we respond to traffic crashes and we see the preventable deaths and painful injuries from motorists not buckling up,” said Matt Kling, Patrolman Angola Police Department.

Indiana law requires the driver and all passengers to buckle up. Children under age eight must be properly restrained in child car seat or booster seat.