Deputies targeting seat belt violators

The Malibu/Lost Hills Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department will pursue the state's annual "Click It or Ticket" seat belt enforcement campaign through June 3.

The department will have officers on the roads looking for drivers and passengers who are not using their seat belts.

California has the fourth highest seat belt use rate in the nation. Since the campaign began in 2005, nearly a million more motorists are buckling up.

Every passenger in a moving vehicle, including the driver, is required to wear a seat belt at all times. If stopped and found to be in violation, law enforcement will issue citations without warning. Tickets range from $80 to $91 for adults.

When children under age 6 are not properly secured in a vehicle, the parent or driver can receive one "point count" on their driving record with a fine from $330 to $971.

Funding for officer overtime to support the campaign was provided by a grant from the Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.