During the month of May, the Sacramento Police Department will begin the 2009 start-of-summer Click It or Ticket mobilization.  The campaign relies on heavy enforcement and public education as a means to help save lives on California roadways. 

The Sacramento Police Department wants to keep you and your family safe and $132 in your wallet by making sure everyone wears their seat belts for every trip.  Fines and fees have gone from under $100 previously to $132 this year for first time adult seat belt violations.  For children under 16, the fine is now $435 for the first time offense.

"We want to make sure that all drivers and passengers buckle up on every ride, day and night," said Police Chief Rick Braziel.  "Our officers will be on the lookout for those who are not buckled up, and for teens and children not riding properly restrained.  We will not accept excuses or give warning.  It's Click It or Ticket."

Currently California has a seat belt usage rate of 95.7 percent, but that still means over one half million people are not buckling up.  Properly restrained drivers, passengers and children have a 50 percent better chance of surviving a crash than unbelted occupants.  Those ejected from vehicles in crashes or roll-overs are up to 35 times more likely to die than restrained occupants.

More than 90 local law enforcement agencies statewide and the CHP will be participating in this year's Click It or Ticket mobilization. Funding to support California's Click It or Ticket campaign was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.