Fergus Falls Forum

A Minnesota law requiring seat belts, which passed in last month’s legislative session, is now in effect. Starting Tuesday, drivers in Minnesota can now be pulled over if any passenger in their car is not buckled up – and incur a $25.00 fine. Currently, roughly 87% of Minnesotans buckle up upon entering a motor vehicle, however the Department of Transpiration expects that this will increase to between 92 and 95 percent after the new law goes into effect. In addition, the Minnesota Seat Belt Coalition has estimated that this new law will help save 30 motor-vehicle-related deaths annually. Compared to other states, Minnesota is ahead of the game in terms of seat-belt usage; however the state is not at the top. The nation-wide average in seat belt usage is at 83%.  Minnesota ranks 22 on a list of 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, for seat belt usage.