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Buckle Up New York campaign under way in NYS parks

The New York State Parks Police and New York State Police will be teaming up with local law enforcement to make sure folks visiting state parks are wearing their seatbelts.

BUFFALO, NY-- The New York State Parks Police and New York State Police will be teaming up with local law enforcement to make sure folks visiting state parks are wearing their seatbelts.

"BUNY in the Parks" is an initiative by the state to ensure motorists and passengers are buckled up while traveling inside state parks.

The month-long campaign runs from Saturday, July 14, 2018 to Monday, August 13, 2018.

Officials say seatbelt compliance in New York State is at 93%, but that motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for children.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 1/3 of children under the age of 13 killed in car crashes were not restrained using seat belts, car seats or booster seats in 2016.

“The safety of our visitors is our greatest priority and through our partnership with other law enforcement agencies, we can continue to administer and educate the public on proper seat-belt usage to ensure a safe, enjoyable experience for all motorists that enter our state parks,” State Parks Police Chief David Page said in a released statement.

Last year, police issued more than 43,000 tickets during their "BUNY in the Parks" campaign.

Highlights of New York State's occupant restraint law:

  • In the front seat, the driver and each passenger must wear a seat belt, one person per belt. The driver and front-seat passengers aged 16 or older can be fined up to $50 each for failure to buckle up.
  • Every occupant, regardless of age or seating position, must use a safety restrain when riding with driver who has a junior license or learner permit.
  • Each passenger under age 16 must wear a seat belt or use an appropriate child safety restraint system. The restraint system must comply with the child height and weight recommendations determined by the manufacturer. Depending on the size of the child, the restraint system may be a safety seat or a booster seat used in combination with a lap and shoulder belt.
  • The driver must make sure that each passenger under age 16 obeys the law. The driver can be fined $25 to $100 and receive up to three driver license penalty points for each violation.

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