They were designed to save your life, but for the next three weeks starting Monday, wearing a seat belt could save you dollars.
Police in several Central Coast cities will be enforcing the statewide “Click it or Ticket” campaign by focusing on seat belt usage between May 14 and June 3. Rather than being given a warning, anyone caught not wearing seat belts will likely drive off with a ticket.
A ticket for a seat-belt violation averages $94 for first-time offenders. Fines get steeper for further violations.
Police departments in Santa Maria, Lompoc, Guadalupe, Grover Beach and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department are among the 273 agencies participating in the campaign this year, using “mini grants” from the state Office of Traffic Safety. The grants pay officers' overtime pay for the hours spent on the campaign - specifically enforcing seat belt usage law.
The Sheriff's Department will enforce the campaign in Carpinteria and Goleta through grants awarded to both cities, according to Sgt. Erik Raney.
The California Highway Patrol is also expected to look out for seat belt violations, said Lt. Matt Olson, commander of the CHP's Santa Maria office.
“Realistically seat belt enforcement has always been a major focus for us,” he added.
According to the CHP, seat belt use rate increased from 92.5 percent in 2005 to 93.4 percent in 2006.
Luis Ernesto Gomez can be reached at 739-2218, or
lgomez@santamariatimes.com
May 13, 2007
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