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Crossing the state line? Be sure you know the laws

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By HEATHER BAUGHMAN

baughman@crescent-news.com

As vacationers travel in and around Ohio this summer, it is important to be vigilant about the laws of the road, some of which are different in neighboring states.

For instance, motorists traveling to Michigan should be aware of at least three laws that differ from Ohio.

After crossing the state line, motorists must make sure that their safety belts are on, or they could be pulled over and cited. Michigan's safety belt law is a primary law, meaning motorists "can be stopped if they are not wearing their safety belts," explained Anne Readett, communication manager at the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning.

In the eight years since the law has been in effect, Michigan has seen a substantial increase in safety belt wearers, resulting in fewer serious injuries during motor vehicle crashes. "That's the power of a primary law," Readett said.

Ohio has a secondary safety belt law, meaning motorists cannot be pulled over for simply not wearing their safety belt.

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm in March signed a new law, which took effect July 1, requiring most children up to the age of 8 to be in a safety seat while riding in a vehicle.

Whether its a high-back or no-back booster, one of the two forms of the child safety seat must be used for children who have outgrown their infant or convertible seats, but are not yet 8 years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall (which ever comes first).

"Adult-sized safety belts do not fit children properly," Readett said, which is one of the main reasons why Michigan decided to join about 40 other states with a similar law.

In Ohio, children up to 4 years old and 40 pounds must be securely fastened in a child safety seat while riding in a vehicle.

With laws requiring adults to be properly secured inside vehicles, Michigan also has a law requiring motorcyclists to wear a helmet at all times, and, Readett emphasized, "it has to be a DOT-approved (Department of Transportation) helmet. Not just any old helmet."

In Ohio, motorcyclists who are under the age of 18, hold a motorcycle operator's endorsement or a "novice" license must wear a helmet while operating a motorcycle.

These laws, Readett said, are "meant to help reduce deaths and serious injuries," which has proven to be true in recent studies. With more people buckling up, "traffic deaths have declined."

Fines for breaking these laws are $65 for the safety belt and child safety seat and $35-$100 (depending on the county) for being caught riding without a helmet.

Motorists traveling to neighboring Indiana must also buckle up, according to Dennis Rosebrough, Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles communications director. "Indiana does have a primary seat belt law," he said. "You can be stopped for not wearing your seat belt."

Children under the age of 8 must also be properly restrained. According to the Indiana driver manual, "A person operating a motor vehicle with a child passenger under age 8 is required by law to properly secure the child in a child restraint system (i.e., child car seat or booster seat), unless it is reasonably determined that the child cannot fit in a child restraint system. Then the child is required by law to be properly restrained by a safety belt. The law requires children between ages 8 and 15 to use a seat belt."

Too, motorcyclists with a learner's permit traveling to Indiana must continue to wear their helmets while on the roadways.

Safe travel across state lines is very important, as is traveling here at home.

While relaxing on vacation, "Never forget to relax safely," said Lindsay Komlanc, media relations director for the Ohio Department of Public Safety. "We're always going to ask that people obey all motor vehicle laws" while they are traveling in Ohio. Specifically, she said, "driving impaired is never okay," and buckling up is key to safety.

"You cannot be pulled over just for not wearing your seat belt ... but we want people to know that buckling your seat belt is your best and only defense."

Too, people need to obey the speed limit, wherever they go. "Speed can be a big factor in summer travel," Komlanc said.

Even if people have traveled the same roads every year on vacation for 15 years, the landscape can change, Komlanc. "There can be stretches of road that are under construction, or the road may have changed," she said.

For these reasons, it is important to obey the speed limit, obey the signs and stay safe this summer.