Abstract: The vehicle door latch includes a housing having latch bolt rotatably mounted for engagement with a striker mounted on the door jamb. The door latch includes a detent mechanism adapted to establish the latch bolt in rotary positions to selectively latch the door in a primary closed position, to latch the door at a secondary door ajar position, and to unlatch the door at an unlatched position allowing door opening movement. The electrical switch includes a rotor rotatably mounted on the latch housing and carrying a first set of electrical contacts adapted upon rotary movement of the rotor to electrically connect with a second set of electrical contacts mounted on the latch housing. The rotor and the latch bolt each have gear teeth provided respectively thereon and meshing with one another whereby rotary movement of the latch bolt induces corresponding rotary movement of the rotor and thereby enables the switch mechanism to provide electrical signals corresponding to the various positions of the latch bolt.