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# Police zero in on seat belt violators
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/police-zero-in-on-seat-belt-violators/
- Published: 2003-11-25T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T03:16:09.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Crime, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Daily Press staff*

Local police are on the lookout for people who aren’t wearing their seat belts. Santa Monica Police Chief James T. Butts, Jr. is warning vehicle drivers and passengers that seat belt enforcement will be increased through Nov. 30, which includes the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. The beefed-up enforcement runs concurrent with the National Buckle Up America Mobilization and is part of the California Seat Belt Compliance Campaign.

“Since most crashes occur within five miles of home, wearing a seat belt and using child safety seats is the most effective action a person can take to protect themselves and their loved ones from injury or death in a traffic collision,” Butts said.

The seat belt use rate for 2003 in California is 91.2 percent. However, 8.8 percent of the population who fail to buckle up represents more than 3 million people — the population of 21 states.

Last year in California, 1,268 unbelted vehicle occupants lost their lives in traffic collisions. Of that number, about 45 percent (571) of those lives could have been saved had they remembered to buckle up, police say.

Research reveals that people who fail to buckle up justify their irresponsible behavior with one of the following excuses: “I forgot.” “I'm only taking a short trip.” “Seat belts are uncomfortable.” A month long public information campaign will use the slogan, “Seat Belts. Remember. Or be remembered.” That message will be emphasized by radio and TV ads, and billboards proclaiming, “Seat belts or body bags — One size fits all.”

A grant from the Office of Traffic Safety, obtained through the California Business, Transportation & Housing Agency, will fund officer overtime to enforce the seat belt and child passenger safety laws.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 25, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/112503.pdf?ref=smdp.com)