ST. PAUL, MN. — Minnesota law enforcers are making full use of a new seat belt law, issuing 10,081 citations during a special crackdown in October.

The Department of Public Safety said Wednesday that almost 200 of the citations were for child safety seat violations. The stepped-up enforcement campaign ran from Oct. 9 to Oct. 22.

A 5-month-old Minnesota law allows police to pull over motorists if they spot an unbuckled driver or passenger. Before that, they had to identify another traffic violation before making the stop.

A seat belt violation can cost more than $100 when surcharges are added in.

The department says there are 30 fewer traffic deaths at this point in 2009 than there were in 2008. Officials documented fewer deaths of unbuckled motorists.

Source:  Associated Press, KFGO News Center