By Daily Press staff
Police are on the lookout for seat belt violators. Santa Monica 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 16 through June 5, including the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. The special enforcement is a part of the national “Click It or Ticket” campaign.
While officers will be writing tickets in compliance with the law, saving lives and preventing injuries are the goals. The 1,343 vehicle occupants killed in California crashes in 2002 all were not wearing their seat belts, Butts said.
“What does it take to convince people to buckle up?” Butts asks. “Taking the few seconds to buckle a seat belt is the most effective thing a person can do to save their life.”
Butts noted that the maximum fine for seat belt violations for people 16 and older is $89 for a first offense and $191 for a second offense.
However, the consequences are more serious in California courts when children under 16 are not properly secured in a vehicle. If cited, drivers may receive one point on their driving record, with a 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,” Butts said.
A 2004 survey revealed that 90.4 percent of vehicle occupants wear their seat belts. That leaves 3 million people who do not buckle up on California roadways. Beach concessions reconsidered
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 17, 2005. Read the original PDF.