Police Chief James T. Butts, Jr., is warning vehicle drivers and passengers that officers will be issuing tickets to persons not wearing seat belts from May 16th through June 5th including the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. This special enforcement period is a part of the National “Click It or Ticket” Campaign.
While officers will be writing tickets, compliance with the law, saving lives and preventing injuries are the goals. The 1,343 vehicle occupants killed in California crashes in 2002, who did not wear their seat belts, had one thing in common: they did not believe it could happen to them!
“What does it take to convince people to buckle up?” is a question to consider, according to Chief Butts. “Taking the few seconds to buckle a seat belt is the most effective thing a person can do to save their life.”
Chief Butts noted that the maximum fine for seat belt violations for persons 16 and older is $89 for a first offense and $191 for a second offense.
California courts are very serious when children under 16 are not properly secured in a vehicle. If cited, drivers may receive one “point count” on their driving record, with maximum fine for a first offense of $340, which increases to $871 for a second offense. “These amounts pale in comparison to the costs to society for each death or injury that could be prevented by wearing a seat belt,” says Chief Butts.
The 2004 California Seat Belt Use Survey revealed that 90.4% of vehicle occupants wear their seat belts. That leaves 3 million people who do not buckle up on California roadways with a strong chance of receiving a seat belt ticket during the three-week campaign.
