With November’s busy holiday weekend upon us, a number of states are getting tough on travelers who don’t wear their safety belts.

If you can still actually afford to travel on the New York Thruway, make sure you’ve got your seat belt buckled over the Turkey Day weekend.

On Monday, Nov. 21, the New York State Thruway Authority and the State Police Troop T began enforcing its zero-tolerance seat belt policy, and will continue to do so through Sunday, Nov. 27.

“The State’s mandatory seat belt law requires all front seat occupants, and rear seat occupants under the age of 16, to wear safety belts,” Thruway Authority Executive Director Michael Fleischer said in a press release. “Educating the motoring public about the importance of seat belt compliance along the New York State Thruway is a major focus of this initiative.”

Troop T members will set up checkpoints and dedicated patrols along the entire Thruway to ensure compliance with New York’s seat belt law. Troop T will be joined by police agencies across the state in the effort, which is part of the ongoing Buckle Up New York Campaign.

“We intend to send a strong message to motorists across New York,” said Troop T Major George P. Beach II. “It doesn’t matter whether you buckle up to save lives, or to save yourself a ticket, just make sure you buckle up – today and every day.”

During last year’s fall wave, troopers staffed 102 checkpoints statewide and issued 3,285 safety restraint citations over a seven-day period, according to a press release. Law enforcement agencies in the state initiated the Buckle Up New York Campaign in 1999.

New York isn’t the only state to get serious about safety belts. As part of the nationwide Click It or Ticket campaign, a number of Midwestern states, including Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio and Michigan, are setting up special patrols and task forces over the weekend.

The enforcement effort in these states began Wednesday, Nov. 23, and will continue through Sunday, Nov. 27, with an average ticket ranging from $50 to $85, according to The Associated Press.

Farther east, Massachusetts is also stepping up to the safety-enforcement challenge. The Governor’s Highway Safety Board gave more than $360,000 in grants to communities throughout the state, in order to help establish checks and patrols for seat belts, the Boston Herald reported.

– By Aaron Ladage, staff writer
aaron_ladage@landlinemag.com