Police to step up seat belt enforcement

Red Wing Police will have extra enforcement for seat belt use May 21 through June 3. Officers will be especially watchful for teenagers not buckling up, Police Chief Tim Sletten said, adding that low seat belt use is one reason that traffic crashes are the leading killer of Minnesota teenagers.

Sletten said parents should talk to their teen drivers about safe driving, stressing that it’s illegal not to wear a seat belt. It’s also illegal to text while driving.

“Parents need to stress seat belt use and provide supervised driving experience on a variety of road types and conditions,” Sletten said. “It’s also important that parents set and follow through with consequences.”

Sletten added that lap belts should be worn low and snug across the hips and shoulder straps should never be tucked under the arm or behind the back.

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