Menifee Police Planning to Crack Down On Seatbelt Violators Next Week

The Menifee Police Department will be looking for unbelted drivers and passengers as part of the 2011 Click It or Ticket mobilization, starting next Monday. The two week crackdown, lasting from May 23 to June 5, seeks to cite more drivers with fines for not wearing safety restraints.

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

Despite California's seat belt use rate sitting at an all time high of 96.2 percent, it still leaves nearly one million drivers and passengers not buckling up, according to a Riverside County Sheriff's news release. Law enforcement officials credit previous "The Click It or Ticket" crackdowns for boosting the seat belt use rate from from 92.5 percent in 2005 to 96.2 percent in 2010.

The crackdown will intensify during evening hours due to statistics showing that drivers are least likely to buckle up after the sun goes down. 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 crashes.

"Many nighttime traffic deaths can be prevented if more motorists simply start wearing their seat belts. Law enforcement throughout the area will be looking for seat belt violators, day and night," said Sergeant Dan Lingo. "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."

The Menifee Police Department is just one of 140 local law enforcement agencies throughout the State that will be participating in this year's program. Funding is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.