Seat belt law now primary

On June 30, Wisconsin became the 30th state to adopt primary safety belt enforcement, which allows officers to stop and ticket unbuckled motorists even when no other traffic or equipment violation has been observed.

Previously, officers had to stop a driver for another violation before issuing a safety belt ticket. Now for the first time since its enactment in 1987, Wisconsin’s mandatory safety belt law is being enforced just like all other traffic laws.

Drivers should also be aware that they may be ticketed for allowing unbelted passengers in their vehicles, according to a law enacted in 2006.