Posted at: 11/09/2009 7:06 PM
By: Sarah Swistak

Some Still Not Buckling Up

(ABC 6 NEWS) � The primary seat belt law took effect in June, but some drivers in Southeast Minnesota still aren�t getting the message.

Officers issued over 10,000 seat belt citations in a two-week period last month, with 137 of those being in Olmsted County.

"October was a huge enforcement month and Olmsted County got third in greater Minnesota for the number of citations," said MnDOT Spokeswoman Jessica Wiens.

And the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office says, that's not so much a reflection of non-compliant drivers as it is of proactive officers.

"I think it's good news. We have officers out there being aggressive and enforcing the law," said Sgt. Vincent Scheckel.

"It is extremely, extremely exciting that statewide seat belt usage is up to 90-percent now," said Wiens.

But Sgt. Scheckel can do one better, he says seatbelt compliance in Olmsted County has jumped about 15 percent in the past four months.

"We were right around 78 to 81 percent, and now we're around 92 percent compliant," said Sgt. Scheckel.

But the rest of Southeast Minnesota, including Mower and Fillmore County, are lagging behind, with compliance rates in the 70-percent range.

"We're lower than the state average but still higher than we were in the past years," said Wiens.

State officials say rural road drivers, males, and young people are to blame for the low compliance.

"They're a tough group to crack and to be honest we're still working on how we can get through to them,� said Wiens.

But officers have a pretty good idea. If you don't click it, they're going to ticket.

Traffic accidents are still considered to be the leading cause of death for people between the ages of two and 34, and MnDOT says the best way to prevent that is to wear your seat belt.