'Click It or Ticket' Campaign Catches Drivers in Hartland

A busy season of barbecues, graduation parties and trips Up North is about to kick off and, in anticipation, the national Click It or Ticket campaign began this week that included a four-hour stop Tuesday in Hartland.

An enforcement zone was set up at noon on M-59 west of Old U.S. 23 near . It was expected to stay in place until 4 p.m., said Livingston County Sheriff's Deputy Anthony Clayton. At least a dozen tickets had been issued by 2:30 p.m., he said.

"A lot people think wearing it under your arm is OK … if you wear the belt under your arm, it's still going to get a ticket. A lot of people don't know that," Clayton said.

Deputies were at Grand River Avenue and Chilson Road on Monday and will be at various other locations in the county over the coming days, Clayton said. On Wednesday, a zone will be set up in the Hilton Road and Grand River Avenue area in Brighton Township.

Statewide, officers from more than 200 Michigan law enforcement agencies will work to enforce the state's seat belt law, which requires all drivers, as well as passengers in the front seat or who are 15 or younger, to buckle up.

"Michigan has a primary seat belt law, which means law enforcement can stop and ticket motorists solely for not being buckled up," according to the Michigan State Police website.

The law also says children must ride in a car seat or booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4-foot-9-inches tall, whichever comes first. Those who do not comply could face a $65 fine.

The campaign, which is federally funded, will use daytime seat belt enforcement zones and nighttime roving patrols, according to police. 

In Livingston County, the enforcement will be done throughout the summer, police said.