Seat belt enforcement tightens up

Drivers and passengers on the state's streets and freeways who don't bother to pull their seat belts on and buckle them have a particularly good chance of getting caught and fined this month.

Traffic enforcers are heavily targeting seat belt scofflaws as part of the state's "Click It or Ticket" program. The campaign, which runs through June 5, aims to save lives and prevent injuries by cracking down on motorists who don't wear safety restraints.

Last year, 961 vehicle occupants who weren't wearing seat

belts were killed in auto crashes. According to a 2005 survey, 92.5 percent of Californians wear safety belts. But that also means that 2.7 million people don't buckle up.

Motorists who don't wear seat belts face a $91 fine for the first offense and a $193 fine for the second. Drivers with passengers under the age of 16 who aren't wearing seat belts are fined $340 and will receive a point on their driving record for the first offense. Second-time offenders earn an $871 penalty.