Seat Belt Enforcement Underway, $102 Fine for Violators

Click it or Ticket, seat belt enforcement. Maui Now graphic.

By Wendy Osher

The state’s Click it or Ticket seat belt enforcement campaign got underway yesterday and continues for two weeks until June 1, 2014.

Motorists and passengers are reminded to buckle up, or face an increased fine of $102 on Maui.

In addition to the higher fine, a new seat belt law that went into effect in May of 2013 requires all occupants in the vehicle to be secured within a seat belt, including adults in the back seat.

State law also requires children under 4 years old to be secured in a child restraint, and those 4 to 7 years old should have a child restraint or booster seat. A mandatory court appearance is also required for all child restraint violations.

Transportation officials say 14,542 drivers in Hawaiʻi were cited for seat belt violations last year, and an additional 2,206 drivers were cited for child restraint violations. At last check, Hawaiʻi’s seat belt usage rate was 93% in June of 2012, down 4% from the previous year.

Governor Neil Abercrombie joined transportation officials in launching the program during a proclamation presentation at the State Capitol on Monday.

The goal, state officials say, is to save lives by reminding everyone to buckle up. According to state data, of all the motor vehicle fatalities in 2011, only 37.5% were properly restrained.

“Even though our state has achieved a seat belt usage rate of 90% or higher over the past 10 years, there are still parts of the state where seat belt use is much lower than the state average, and those are the individuals we are still trying to reach,” said Abercrombie in a press release.