Buckle up, Gators.
The University Police Department will crack down on unbuckled drivers and passengers today from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. in response to Florida's new seat belt law.
Under the new law, not wearing a seat belt is now a primary offense instead of a secondary offense, meaning officers can stop drivers if they or their passengers are not wearing seat belts.
According to UPD Lt. William Gainey, officers will stop a car if anyone in the front seat or anyone under 18 in the back seat is not wearing a seat belt. Officers will give warnings or citations depending on any previous violations.
"The purpose of this saturation detail is to educate incoming students - not to issue a lot of citations," Gainey wrote in an e-mail.
Officers will be stationed across the UF campus and near the P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School on Southwest 11th Street.
Gainey said a focus will be given to the areas around Kindercare and the Baby Gator Daycare Center.
The seat belt saturation will kick off a string of details to promote traffic safety. UPD will conduct the details every other Wednesday and will focus on different traffic safety issues, like crosswalks, scooter helmet enforcement and bicycle safety.
