A two-week crackdown starts today on those who don’t use their seat belts.
More than 100 police agencies statewide, including the CHP and Petaluma police, are participating in the special campaign, funded by the state Office of Traffic Safety via the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The crackdown, which occurs twice a year, goes through Nov. 28.
Petaluma Sgt. Ken Savano said his officers will be paying extra attention on whether drivers and passengers are using seat belts. It’s something that Petaluma police take quite seriously. Savano said that in 2009 Petaluma officers ticketed 275 drivers for not wearing their seat belts. So far this year, 352 tickets have been given out.
A study last summer showed 96.2 percent of Californians buckle up, an increase from 95.3 percent in 2009. The national average in 2009 was 84 percent.
A NHTSA study reported in 2009 found 93 percent of people in Western states buckled up compared to 82 percent in the Northeast and South and 81 percent in the Midwest. Eighty-seven percent of those riding in vans and SUVs wore seat belts compared to 86 percent for cars and 74 percent for pickups.
The Office of Traffic Safety said fines for seat belt violations start at a minimum of $142 for an adult and a minimum of $445 for children under age 16. A second offense for a child not properly restrained is more than $1,000, the office said.
To read an earlier story about seat belt use in Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma counties, CLICK HERE.
Darryl
I support the crackdown on seat belt violators. What about the cell phone violators? Every day I see anywhere from 5-10 folks driving with their cell phones up to their ear and chatting away — and in several instances their attention is obviously not on the road or traffic! I consider cell phone violators of more important than seat belt violators — seat belt violators don’t jeopradize the safety of other drivers/vehicles, but cell phone violators definitely do!
November 15th, 2010 7:47 am
potter
Another way of making money off us. What a shame.
November 15th, 2010 8:03 am
DOGHTR
JUST ANOTHER WAY HI-JACK MORE OF OUR MONEY THROUGH “PUBLIC SAFETY” NUISANCE LAWS. OF COURSE, THE INSURANCE COMPANIES GET THEIR CUT. LIKE BEARS AT THE FISH LADDER, THEY GRAB STRAY SALMON TRYING TO SWIM UPSTREAM.
November 15th, 2010 8:30 am
MC RIDER
CELL PHONES NOT SEATBELTS SHOULD HAVE TOP PRIORITY Teens texting & yapping not watching where ther going, Have a helmet cam to prove the fact!.
November 15th, 2010 10:00 am
Luke
Fat people, get on a bike. Roads should be for cyclists, not cars
November 15th, 2010 10:31 am
Lyn Cramer
If compliance with seat belt laws is 95%+ in California, one would think police would focus their limited enforcement resources on laws with higher violation rates. It is safe to say that posted speed limits don’t enjoy a compliance rate remotely close to that of the seat belt law, yet excessive speed is responsible for many accidents and worse.
What is driving this focus on enforcing a law that already enjoys substantial compliance? It’s hard to believe that upping the compliance percentage a point or two will yield substantial benefits in injuries avoided or lives saved. Are the feds funding a program to target seat belt use? Is money, not the best use of police resources, determining how police spend their time?
November 15th, 2010 11:01 am
Annoyed
Just obey the law and you have nothing to worry about. How hard is that?
November 15th, 2010 11:43 am
1234
I think the people with dogs on their laps while they are driving should get tickets!! I am a dog lover too, but my dog is never in my lap to distract me as i drive she’s in the back seat.
November 15th, 2010 12:16 pm
John
Luke – Why should only fat people get on a bike? slender and all type should do the same as well.
November 16th, 2010 2:19 pm