Seatbelt enforcement campaign

Cornell Police is participating in the statewide Buckle Up New York campaign through Nov. 27. During this enforcement period, officers will have a "zero-tolerance" approach for all vehicle occupants who fail to comply with the state seatbelt use regulations. New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law requires the use of seatbelts by:

• All front-seat occupants regardless of age. The driver is responsible for all front-seat passengers under age 16.
• All rear-seat passengers under age 16.
• All children under 4 years old must be restrained in a federally approved child safety seat.
• Children ages 4, 5, 6 and 7 years old must be properly restrained in an appropriate child-restraint system, one that meets the child's height and weight recommendations according to the child restraint manufacturer.

More information about seatbelt use and laws can be found by visiting http://www.safeny.com.

Cornell University Police officers will be enhancing their safety, education and law enforcement activities, thanks to $28,900 from the New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee.

The funds will be divided into four grants. The first grant totals $3,500, which Cornell Police will use for child occupant safety education and enforcement, plus child safety seat giveaways. Cornell Police also will use the funds to train additional officers to become certified child safety seat installers.

A second grant for $9,300 will help Cornell Police step up its enforcement efforts for seatbelt usage violations and for participation in the statewide mandatory enforcement campaign that will run from May 23 through June 5, 2011.

The third grant is a $9,600 Selective Traffic Enforcement Program grant to be used for the enforcement of aggressive and distracted driving violations. Such violations include speeding, following too close, stop sign and red light violations, and cell phone violations. This grant can also be used in enforcement efforts directed at improving pedestrian safety.

The final $6,500 of the funding enables Cornell Police to buy a new Datamaster DMT device that measures blood-alcohol levels during driving arrests.

For more information about Cornell Police and safety at the university, visit: http://www.cupolice.cornell.edu/.