1,525 cited in seat-belt enforcement spree

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STAR-ADVERTISER FILE PHOTO / MAY 2007
Police officers across the state gave out 1,525 tickets during this year's Click It or Ticket campaign. Here, officer Emalia Keawe handed out a ticket at the corner of Beretania and Isenberg streets.

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Honolulu police gave out 35 percent fewer tickets for seat-belt violations during the just-concluded Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign, the third consecutive year citations have declined.

"The awareness is out there and it seems that we’re getting through to people," said Dan Meisenzahl, state Department of Transportation spokesman.

Hawaii was No. 1 in the nation in seat-belt usage in 2010 at 97.6 percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The state has been above 90 percent for the past eightyears. Wyoming drivers were the least buckled-in, at 67.6 percent. The national average in 2010 was 85 percent.

Gary Au, a former public school driver’s education instructor, said Hawaii’s No. 1 compliance rate is due to strong law enforcement and the public’s awareness that seat belts are important.

"People have embraced that seat belts afford protection and the Click It or Ticket campaign has proven it’s effective," Au said.

Click It or Ticket is a national, federally funded campaign committed to proper seat-belt usage. The fine for seat-belt violations is $92 — and $100 to $500 for not buckling up a child.

Hawaii law requires drivers and passengers in the front seat to fasten their seat belts. Back-seat passengers must buckle up if they’re 17 or younger.

During the campaign from May 23 to June 5, officers from all counties cracked down on drivers and passengers not wearing their seat belts and not properly restraining children. Police issued 1,525 tickets, down 837 from the 2010 campaign.

"We enforce seat-belt violations year round, but it’s during this period we stress to officers to pay extra attention to seat-belt usage," said Sgt. Danton Nakama of the Honolulu Police Department.

Honolulu showed a decrease of 604 seat-belt citations issued from last year. Nakama said 77 officers were on special Click It or Ticket duty during the two-week campaign, 32 fewer officers than last year.

Meisenzahl hopes the state can attain a 100 percent seat-belt compliance rate in the coming years.

"(Seat-belt usage) is always going to be a problem, but we have to continue to be vigilant," Meisenzahl said.