Buckle Up New York campaign launches

From left, seniors Jakeele McDonald, 17, and Kevon Thompson, 18, race to buckle their seat belts during "The Battle of the Belts" contest in Deer Park High School's parking lot. The event, held during Global Youth Traffic Safety Month, aims to remind teens of the importance of buckling up in any seat of the car, and how easy and fast it can be. (May 9, 2013) Credit: Brittany Wait
Effective Monday, county and State Police on Long Island are joining law enforcement agencies across the country in cracking down on drivers who don't buckle up and don't have their young passengers properly restrained.
The Buckle Up New York campaign is being coordinated in conjunction with the governor's Traffic Safety Committee.
State laws require:
Front-seat occupants age 8 or older to be buckled in, as well as backseat passengers 8 through 15.
Children younger than 4 to be restrained in a federally approved safety seat.
Children 4 to 7 to be restrained in an appropriate child-restraint system, which does not include a regular seat belt.
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