According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Click it or Ticket campaign in Minnesota has proven to be successful. DPS recently reported that the primary seat belt law has helped the state achieve a record high 90 percent seat belt compliance rate. This is up from 87 percent in 2008.

As a result, motorists’ deaths in Minnesota have declined in 2009. To date, 239 motorists have been killed on Minnesota roads compared to 246 at this time last year. DPS credits this decline to awareness, education and enforcement of the primary law that has changed motorist’s behavior. Law enforcement has seen increased seat belt use for all passengers including back seat passengers. In addition, motorists are buckling up their children in correct child restraints.

Because of the new law that took effect in June 2009, law enforcement can stop motorists for not wearing a seat belt including unbelted passengers. A belt citation is $25 but ends up costing more than $100 when factoring administrative fees. Each year in Minnesota, around 200 unbelted motorists are killed and another 400 unbelted motorists suffer serious, life-altering injuries.

So buckle up Minnesota and click it or you’ll get a ticket.