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MILWAUKEE - Wisconsin drivers are some of the worst in the nation when it comes to buckling up.  In fact, about 25 percent of Wisconsin drivers admit they don't strap in.

That prompted state officials to take action and change Wisconsin's seat belt enforcement to "primary enforcement" rather than "secondary enforcement."  That means officers can now pull drivers over only for not wearing a seat belt.

In the past officers could write tickets to people for not wearing seat belts, but they had to pull drivers over for a separate issue.
If officers issue you a citation, it will cost $10 and will not cost you any points on your driver's license.

The law follows a series of high profile fatal car accidents.

In May, 17-year-old BJ Webb, a star running back and honor roll student at Wisconsin Lutheran, was killed when his car flipped four times.  He was not wearing a seat belt.

Last month two 18-year-old women were killed in Kenosha County when their car went into a ditch and rolled over.  They, too, were not wearing seat belts.  A third person in their car was strapped in.  She survived.

We went out to see what Wisconsinites think.  Many have very different opinions.

"I think it's a good thing," Heather Torker of Kohler said.  "I had a friend who was killed in a car accident when we were 18 and she didn't have her seat belt on.  And she'd be here today if she did."

"I think it's a really good idea they can pull you over for it because there are so many accidents," Kelli Stenklyft of Sheboygan said.
"I think the government keeps passing more and more laws and they just keep stepping on our civil liberties," Matthew Lehman of Green Bay told us.

His younger brother Mike agreed, saying: "It's going to save people's lives, yes, but I'm not going to buckle up.  It's uncomfortable and it's my own life.  It's my choice."

Because of the way officers will now be enforcing the law, the state is eligible for over $15 million in federal funding for traffic safety improvements.