Given the recent number of crashes in our area, police are again reminding everyone about the importance of seatbelts. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation tallied in 2011 that 85,000 tickets were written for not buckling up.
Among traffic violations, safety belt tickets were second only to speeding tickets. Seat belt violations come with only a $10 fine. State Troopers say that it can cost a whole lot more than that; especially when it comes to insurance.
Sergeant Rich Reichenberger, Wisconsin State Patrol, said, “Getting safety belt violations may raise your rate. It’s only $10 but your rates may go up because of that, and all the rest of us who pay insurance and don’t get citations, our rates go up because of the injuries that occur in accidents.”
The DOT figures from last year show that safety belt use in Wisconsin is at 79%. That puts up behind Michigan and Illinois, which have rates of more than 90%.
