By Rylie Friesen–
The Citrus Heights Police Department is putting additional officers on patrol in an effort to crack down on drivers and passengers not using seat belts.
The effort is part of a nationwide “Click It or Ticket campaign” and will continue through June 2, according to a news release issued by police. In California, police said the fine for a seat belt violation is $162.
The enforcement campaign also includes children who are not secured in a safety seat. The fine for failing to secure a child in the proper safety seat is $490, police said.
According to the California Highway Patrol,children under the age of two must sit in a rear-facing car seat, unless the child weighs more than 40 pounds or is 40 inches or taller in height. Children under the age of eight must be secured in a booster seat.
“Putting on a seat belt takes a few seconds and is your best protection in a crash,” Citrus Heights Police Sgt. Shaun Gualco said in announcing the enforcement campaign. “We want everyone to be as safe as possible when driving or riding in a car and wearing a seat belt is the easiest way to do that.”
While California has one of the highest seat belt use rates in the nation (96.2%), police said 532 people who died in crashes last year did not have their seat belts on.
The Click It or Ticket campaign began on May 20 and will conclude on June 2.
