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Michigan's Law Enforcement Kicks Off 'Click It. Don't Risk It.' Campaign

17 May 1999

Michigan's Law Enforcement Kicks Off 'Click It. Don't Risk It.' Campaign To Combat the Number One Killer of America's Children

           Nearly 300 Michigan Police Agencies Join Law Enforcement
                    Across Nation for No Tolerance Efforts

    DETROIT, May 17 -- Not too many things make a police officer
cry.  There is one thing.  It not only makes them cry, but angry enough to
take action.  Being the first on the crash scene when a child has died creates
both these emotions.  Today, with press events across the state, Michigan law
enforcement announced a warning to the public declaring a no tolerance
approach for unbuckled kids with its enforcement campaign, "Click It.  Don't
Risk It."
    This year, as one of the two states in the nation to receive funding to
increase restraint use, Michigan's "Click It.  Don't Risk It." is in support
of the National Operation America Buckles Up Children Campaign (Operation ABC
Mobilization).  Michigan's campaign mission is to increase child restraint use
in Michigan through high-profile, zero-tolerance enforcement supported by
public information and education in order to reduce childhood injuries and
fatalities from motor vehicle crashes.
    Michigan drivers have one week to prepare for the first enforcement wave.
The enforcement effort begins May 24, coinciding with the national effort to
buckle up children.  Police officers will patrol trunklines, city streets and
county roads, watching for motorists who have car seats installed improperly
or who use no child safety restraint devise at all.  Michigan enforcement
waves include:

    Wave 1:  May 16-31, 1999
    Enforcement: May 25-31, 1999

    Wave 2:  November 14-28, 1999
    Enforcement:  November 23-29, 1999

    Wave 3: February 6-19, 2000
    Enforcement: February 13-19, 2000

    "As a part of this initiative, motorists can expect to see increased and
intensified enforcement before, during and following enforcement periods known
as waves," states Captain Tad Sturdivant, 2nd District Commander, Michigan
State Police.  "Our goal is not to write tickets, but to save children's
lives."
    More than 2,000 children die in traffic crashes nationwide each year
making it the leading cause of death for children.  Another 300,000 children
are injured in crashes.
    Michigan's safety belt law requires all children under the age of 16 to
use either a child safety seat or a safety belt, depending on the age of the
child.  Currently, with court costs, a driver is fined about $55 for child
restraint seat and safety belt violations.
    "We can no longer wait for Michigan's motorist to buckle up children,"
states Captain Sturdivant.  He continues, "A majority (some 70%) do buckle up,
however, the remaining 30% need a stronger motivation to use safety seats.
With the support and commitment from national and state government, community
health, businesses and more than 300 law enforcement agencies, we stand united
in our zero tolerance approach to enforce Michigan's child restraint law."
    "We do not want to pull children from car wrecks, so if tickets are what
it takes to get motorists to obey the law than that's what we'll do," states
Chief Benny Napoleon, Detroit Police Department.  "Regardless of municipality
or rank, we would rather write one hundred tickets than pull one more dead or
injured child from a vehicle crash."
    Across the state, the "Click It. Don't Risk It." campaign will work with
groups to schedule safety seat inspections to include churches, hospitals and
community-based organizations.  Efforts will also include working with local
agencies to identify resources in the community to obtain child safety seats.
    The momentum for zero tolerance for drivers with unbuckled children is
growing.  Nationally, governors from across the nation including Governor
Engler are committed to this mobilization effort.