Police chief hit the street Monday for seatbelt enforcement

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Rosemount police chief Gary Kalstabakken dusted off his patrol skills Monday afternoon in the name of keeping people safe on the roads.

Kalstabakken and other chiefs from Dakota County got behind the wheel for a special seatbelt enforcement effort from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday, mostly along Highway 3.

Organizers called the saturation enforcement, which kicks off an annual Click it or Ticket effort, an alumni day. For Kalstabakken it was a chance to experience a part of police work he doesn’t often handle these days.

“This is the one time where some of us get out and do it ourselves,” Kalstabakken said. “It’s important, and it’s a chance for us to actually go out and enforce it, too.”

This is the second year Dakota County police chiefs have held the event.

There were an estimated 420 traffic fatalities last year in Minnesota, the fewest since 1944. Police attribute the lower number to a Minnesota law requiring seatbelt use.

“There’s a lot of statistical information out there on the safety of seatbelt usage,” Kalstabakken said. “It just reduces the injuries in accidents, the deaths that occur. Wearing seatbelts is for the benefit of those who are in the car. The enforcement gets people to comply.”

Seatbelt violations are considered a primary offense, meaning officers can stop and cite drivers for not buckling up. All passengers in the vehicle must be buckled up. A violation will cost $105 in Dakota County.

Kalstabakken admits he doesn’t have patrol skills as sharp as some of the officers who go out every day. But he knew going in he had support. He told officers he might have to ask for help from time to time with specific statute numbers and some of the other details of traffic enforcement.

“I’m going to go out and they’ll help me out the best they can,” Kalstabakken said.

Click it or Ticket enforcement will run through June 6.

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