FCPD Cracks Down On Seat Belt Use

For the next two weeks, the t will look for unbelted drivers and passengers as part of the 2011 Click It or Ticket campaign.

Along with law enforcement officials across the state, FCPD will be issuing warnings or citations for breaking seat belt laws.

"In many cases, citations will be issued without warning. It’s not just about avoiding a costly ticket; it’s about keeping the ones you care about alive. Remember to buckle up on every trip, day and night," FCPD Chief of Police Craig Courtin said. "Though California and Foster City have a high rate of compliance with laws related to the use of vehicle occupant safety restraints, still nearly 1 million people are not buckling up, and are putting their lives at risk every time they get into the car."

The fines and fees for first-time adult seat belt violations are a minimum of $142. For children under 16, the fine is $445 for a first-time offense.

FCPD said nighttime seat belt enforcement will be a major focus of the two week campaign.

"Because nighttime passenger vehicle occupants are among those least likely to buckle up and most likely to die in crashes when unrestrained, nighttime enforcement has become a priority of the Click It or Ticket mobilization." Courtin said. "Nationwide, of those who died in nighttime crashes in 2009, nearly two-thirds (62 percent) were not wearing seat belts at the time of their fatal crashes."

Properly restrained drivers, passengers and children have a 50-percent-better chance of surviving a crash than unbelted occupants. Those ejected from vehicles in crashes or roll-overs are up to 35 times more likely to die than someone wearing a seat belt, according to police. 

In 2009, seat belts saved approximately 12,713 lives nationwide. In California, it is estimated that 320 people who were killed in 2009 would be alive today if they had been wearing seat belts.

"Wearing seat belts has proven to save lives in the unfortunate event of a traffic collision," Courtin said.