Hey Minnesota, Click It or Ticket This Week!

There are certain phrases that when we hear them, we know exactly what they mean. In the 1980’s, “Just Say No” was a part of the initiate to keep people off drugs. Over the last several years, “Click It or Ticket” has become a phrase that even kids are likely to know what it means. 

But, just in case you’ve been hiding in a cave somewhere, “Click It or Ticket” refers to putting on your seatbelt when you’re in the car or you could get a ticket.  

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Heads Up This Week

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety last week used their social media platforms to inform everyone this week “Click It or Ticket” will be a focus of law enforcement agencies around the state.  

Their statistics say that around five percent of Minnesotans regularly do not wear their seatbelts, which is considerably lower than the National average of around nine percent of people who don’t wear their seatbelts. 

More and more Minnesotans have been wearing their seatbelts according to the Department of Public Safety over the last few years, and that is a good thing, but there is one age group of drivers who seem to be wearing their seatbelts less, and it’s those in the 16–29-year-olds.  

According to the state’s numbers, women are more likely to wear their seatbelts no matter if they’re driving or a passenger. There has been a slight decline is men wearing their seatbelts over the last year in Minnesota. 

The data seems to back up the fact that wearing seatbelts saves lives; the Department of Public Safety says there has been a 20% decrease in fatalities in crashes from 2024. 

How Does This Apply To Children?

If you have children, here are the important rules you need to remember when it comes to properly restraining your child in a vehicle: 

• From birth until 2 years old, children must be in a rear facing car seat or a convertible car seat 

• After they turn 2 and have outgrown the rear facing seat by height or weight, then they can turn to a forward-facing seat with internal harness 

•  Once a child turns 4 and has outgrown the forward-facing seat by height or weight, they can move to a booster seat that uses the lap belt and should belt. 

• After a child turns 9, they can move to a should and lap harness seatbelt if they can pass a five-step test on how a seatbelt works properly 

• Kids under 13 are encouraged to ride in the back seat when possible 

• If a child fits into one or more of the above categories, they must be restrained in what is called the most protective manner for the child 

The Minnesota statewide Click It or Ticket initiative will be in place through the 27th.