Atherton cracks down on seat-belt violators Atherton cracks down on seat-belt violators (August 11, 2004)

Atherton police are launching a campaign to find and ticket drivers and passengers who are not wearing a seat belt, Police Chief Robert Brennan has announced.

Police will issue tickets to seat-belt violators from August 12 through 18, and from September 2 through September 8, including Labor Day weekend, he said.

The maximum fine for seat-belt violators over the age of 16 is $89 for a first offense and $191 for a second offense. Seat-belt violations for children under 16 can result in points on the driver's driving record, and maximum fines of $340 for a first offense and $871 for a second offense, he said.

"These amounts pale in comparison to the costs to society for each death or injury that could be prevented by wearing a seat belt," said Chief Brennan.

Five people in a family of eight were killed in July when their SUV rolled and everyone was ejected from the vehicle on Interstate 5 north of Sacramento. No one was wearing a seat belt and none of the children were secured in child passenger seats, Chief Brennan said.

This special enforcement period is part of the California Seat Belt Compliance Campaign to increase the current rate of seat-belt compliance beyond its current 91.2 percent.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.