PD conducts special seat belt, distracted driving enforcement

Menifee Police Department officers will be conducting special enforcement today, looking for drivers not wearing a seat belt and/or violating the state’s hands-free cell phone law.

Extra officers will be on patrol from 6-10 p.m. this evening, looking for those not wearing a seat belt, according to a news release. Drivers and passengers not wearing a seat belt will be stopped and ticketed. This includes those who do not secure children in child safety seats.

The fine for not wearing a seat belt is $162. The fine for not securing a child in a child safety seat is $490.

“Buckling up only takes a few seconds and is the best defense in the event of a crash,” Menifee PD Chief Pat Walsh said. “We have seen first-hand the consequences of not wearing a seat belt. This should be a no-brainer, but there are people who still choose to not wear a seat belt, or secure children in the correct car seat.”

According to the news release, eight people were injured in Menifee in collisions where parties were unrestrained in 2019. In 2016, a total of 426 people killed in crashes in California were unrestrained.

Under California law, children under 2 years old who weigh under 40 pounds or are under 40 inches tall must ride in a rear-facing car seat. Children under the age of 8 or under 4-foot-9 must be secured in a car or booster seat.

Throughout the day today, officers will also be looking for those who are holding a cell phone or other electronic device while driving. Violators are subject to a $157 fine for the first offense.