Police re-target
seat belt scofflaws
Police are again on a mission to single out drivers and passengers who do not buckle their seat belts.
Violators will be fined $77.
Beginning today through June 1, the state Department of Public Safety and the four county police departments will issue citations to unbuckled drivers and passengers in another "Click It or Ticket" safety campaign.
Drivers also will be ticketed if children 4 years old and under are not properly restrained in back-seat child safety seats.
This year, police will be targeting drivers of pickup trucks and drivers from ages 18 to 25. These two groups have been identified as having the lowest rate of using seat belts.
Nationally, statistics show that the use of seat belts is the single most effective measure drivers and passengers can take to protect themselves in a crash.
During a "Click It or Ticket" campaign from May 20 to June 6, 2002, police issued 4,734 citations for seat belt violations and 169 citations for failure to use child safety seats. Campaigns were also conducted last November and December.
More than 90 percent of Hawaii drivers and passengers use safety belts, making it the third-highest belt-using state, according to police.
Hawaii's 1985 seat belt law requires buckling up for all front-seat occupants and all back-seat passengers under the age of 18. Children under 4 years old are required to ride in a child safety seat.
Dept. of Public Safety