CU Police join in 'Buckle Up' enforcement Sept. 7-16

Buckle up, Cornellians.

During the period of Sept. 7-16, law enforcement agencies throughout the state, including the Cornell Police, will be participating in the "Buckle Up New York" campaign coordinated by the New York State Police.

The campaign calls for "zero tolerance" on seat belt and child safety seat violations.

Cornell Police will conduct seat belt checkpoints, and its patrols will be on high alert for violations during the campaign, said Sgt. Charles Howard, coordinator of traffic enforcement activities.

In April, Cornell Police conducted seat belt compliance surveys of approximately 1,500 people driving on campus and found that 69 percent of the general public and 41 percent of persons in clearly identifiable university-owned vehicles were in compliance. In May, they distributed about 100 warnings to motorists for seat belt violations and issued 103 traffic tickets for seat belt and child safety seat violations during the first wave of "Buckle Up" enforcement.

"It's been proven that seat belts and proper restraints for children save lives," Howard said. "We want to ensure that people drive safely on campus."

New York was the first state to enact a mandatory seat belt law, which became effective in 1985. Seat belt use is mandatory for all front-seat occupants and for children under age 16 in the back seat. Children under age 4 must be in safety seats that meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213.

Drivers are responsible for making sure passengers age 15 or younger comply with the seat belt law.

The law applies to out-of-state visitors as well as New York state residents.