Indiana's new seat belt law will take effect Sunday at midnight and local law enforcement want the public to be aware.
The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department and the Warsaw Police Department are advising motorists that seat belt usage is required in all vehicles Sunday.
Only specific vehicles are listed as exempt in the new law set forth by Indiana legislation.
According to KCSD Sgt. Chad Hill, the new law requires each occupant of a motor wehicle equipped with a safety belt to have the safety belt properly fastened about the occupant's body at all times.
This means that every passenger of all motor vehicles must be properly restrained by a seat belt or by an appropriate child restraint system, regardless of where they are seated in the vehicle.
There are a few exemptions that the state has provided, but the biggest change will be with pickup trucks and SUVs that have been included into the new law, according to Lt. Kip Shuter, WPD.
Extra patrols have been assigned this weekend in an attempt to enforce the new seat belt law, as well as patrol for impaired and dangerous drivers due to the approaching July 4 holiday.
For more information on the new law, the public can go to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institue Web site at: www.in.gov/cji/traffic
