News Brief
The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office is warning drivers and their passengers that deputies will be issuing tickets to those not wearing seat belts from May 15 through June 4, including the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. The special enforcement period is part of the state’s “Click It or Ticket” seat belt campaign.
“Taking the few seconds to buckle a seat belt is the most effective thing a person can do to save their life,” said Sgt. Carl Neusel, of the Sheriff’s West Valley Division.
Besides buckling their own seat belts, drivers must make sure their passengers’ seat belts are buckled as well, or they can be cited for each passenger 16 years old and older who is not buckled up. Additionally, says Neusel, the passengers themselves who are 16 years old and older can be cited if they are not secured in their seat belts.
The maximum fine for seat belt violations for persons 16 and older is $91 for a first offense and approximately $193 for a second offense.
The 2005 California Seat Belt Use Survey showed that 92.5 percent of vehicle occupants wear their seat belts.
