$1.8 Million Awarded in Grants for Statewide Seat Belt Enforcement

SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 12 /PRNewswire/ -- As motorists prepare to hit the roads for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, more than 280 local police departments, along with regional task forces and the California Highway Patrol, will be hitting the streets as part of the statewide "Click It or Ticket" seat belt enforcement campaign taking place today, May 12 through June 1. The campaign is supported by $1.8 million in traffic safety grants awarded by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"The two seconds it takes to buckle a seat belt not only saves lives, but prevents injuries and the societal costs of collisions," said Dale E. Bonner, Secretary of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency. "I am asking all drivers to buckle up on every single trip, no matter how short or close to home. And to ensure that all passengers do the same. It's a matter of life and death."

California currently has an overall seat belt use rate of 94.6 percent. However, the state's teen seat belt use is at a lower 88.9 percent.

"We need parents to set an example and hold an expectation of their children that they must wear a seat belt on every ride, without exception," said OTS Director, Christopher J. Murphy. "It's no secret that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens. And a seat belt is the best defense."

The "Click It or Ticket" campaign is timed to coincide with the beginning of the heavy summer travel period, starting with Memorial Day weekend. This year, extra emphasis will be given to rural and nighttime enforcement.

"The CHP will be joining local police and sheriff's departments throughout California and actively issuing citations for seat belt violations," said California Highway Patrol Commissioner, Joe Farrow. "We will be on the roads vigorously enforcing California's seat belt laws; including making sure teens and all young passengers are also properly restrained."

The fine for a seat belt violation for vehicle occupants over the age of 16 is $80 to $91, depending on the jurisdiction. The fine for failing to properly buckle up any child under the age of 16 increases to about $350 per child for a first offense and up to $970 on a second offense. The driver gets the ticket if the parent is not in the car.

Several traffic-related departments within the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency are working together to promote "Click It or Ticket." With funding support from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the California Office of Traffic Safety will distribute $1.8 million in mini grants to 281 law enforcement agencies in California, while the California Highway Patrol will lead the state's enforcement efforts. In addition, changeable message signs operated by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will carry "Click It or Ticket" messaging during much of the campaign, as will LED screens in various field offices operated by the Department of Motor Vehicles.