Temecula Police Announce Special Seat Belt Enforcement Campaign

The  Riverside County sheriff's deputies who make up the Temecula Police Department planned to crack down on seat belt violators starting Monday as part of the 2014 nationwide Click It or Ticket campaign, a sergeant said.

"Even with a seatbelt usage rate of 97.4 percent, California still has 800,000 or more who aren't buckling up," said Temecula police Sgt. Joseph Greco. "In a crash they stand a 50 percent greater chance of being killed than those who have taken the two seconds to buckle in."

"Memorial Day weekend kicks off summer vacation season, and we want to ensure that everyone arrives at their destination safe and sound," said Temecula Police Chief Jeff Kubel. "If you are not wearing your seatbelt, you will be ticketed."

The California Highway Patrol and police and sheriff departments statewide will take part in the seatbelt crackdown campaign May 19 through June 1, Greco said.

A seatbelt violation for an adult over age 16 costs a minimum of $161 for the first offense, he said. The penalty for failing to properly buckle up any child under 16 is a minimum of $490 per child for the first offense plus a violation point added to their driver's license, Greco said. If a parent is not in a car the driver gets the ticket.

– City News Service.