(May-2008) The California Highway Patrol (CHP) looks to tighten seat belt usage throughout the state during the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend.

The three-day weekend is a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) for the CHP. All available officers will be out patrolling the roadways during the MEP, which begins Friday, May 23 at 6 p.m. and extend until midnight Monday, May 26.

“No matter how long, or short the road trip, always wear a seatbelt,” said Captain Doug Rich, Area Commander. Captain Rich added “It can make the difference between life and death in a crash.”

Memorial Day weekend 2007 saw 37 people die in vehicle crashes in California; at least half of those killed in CHP jurisdiction were not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

In addition to seatbelt violators, officers will be on the lookout for speeders and motorists who drink and drive. Last year, statewide, CHP officers arrested 1,614 drivers for DUI during the Memorial Day weekend.

The Memorial Day MEP is also an Operation CARE (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) holiday. Operation CARE is a joint program of the nation’s highway patrols that places special safety emphasis on interstate highways during holiday periods. CARE highways in California include Interstates 80, 40, 15 (San Bernardino to the Nevada border) and 5 (Bakersfield north to the Oregon line).

Meanwhile, the "Click It or Ticket" campaign continues until June 1, as part of a state and national seat belt "mobilization.

"Click It or Ticket means no excuses ... we will not back down on our efforts to increase seat belt use until seatbelt usage by Californians is at 100 percent," said Captain Rich.

According to an annual survey commissioned by the state Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), 94.6 percent of California motorists are buckling up.