Not wearing a seat belt? CHP is on lookout for you

Not wearing a seat belt? CHP is on lookout for you

By Bee Staff

The California Highway Patrol is cracking down on motorists not wearing seat belts.

The basic fine for not wearing a seat belt is $142, but other costs such as court fees can sharply raise the final total.

The fine is up to $445 for not properly restraining a child under 16. If the parent is not in the car, the driver gets the ticket, a CHP spokeswoman said.

The enforcement effort, - dubbed California Occupant Restraint Campaign II - runs until Sept. 30, she said.

The enforcement push is part of a federally-fund campaign to try to reduce the number of deaths and injuries from motorists not wearing seat belts.

In addition to the statewide enforcement efforts, CHP personnel are conducting community outreach to educate drivers about seat belt and child-restraint usage, according to a CHP news release.

"Seat belts and child safety seats are the best defense against impaired, aggressive, and distracted drivers," said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. "The two seconds it takes to buckle up can be the difference between life and death and can help prevent serious injuries from a collision."

Of the 1,891 vehicle occupants killed statewide in 2009 (the latest year figures are available for), there were 544 who were not using safety equipment, making up roughly 29 percent of all vehicle passengers killed, the release states.

In 2009, CHP officers issued nearly 163,000 citations to for not wearing a seat belt. More than 16,000 citations were issued to parents, guardians or drivers who failed to properly secure children inside the vehicle.

Comprehensive traffic safety seminars and classes; child safety-seat inspections; and free safety seats distributions are part of the campaign.

Funding for the year-long campaign is provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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