Police to Crack Down on Seatbelt Violators

The Union City Police Department is warning drivers and passengers to buckle up this summer.

From May 23 to June 6, Union City police will be cracking down on those not wearing seat belts for California's "Click It or Ticket" campaign.

While seat belt use is at a record high of 83 percent nationwide, 45 million Americans still fail to buckle up, according to police.

About 96 percent of people in California use seat belts, but more than 1.5 million Californians do not, police said.

Those least likely to wear seat belts are teenagers, young adults, men, nighttime riders, motorists traveling on rural roads, and people riding in pick-up trucks, according to national statistics.

The Union City Police Department is sending the message to help everyone arrive safely at their destinations.

More than 1,300 Californians survived by bucking up and about 150 others died because they failed to wear seat belts in 2010, according to law enforcement estimates.

More than 100 local law enforcement agencies in the state and the California Highway Patrol will be participating in the "Click It or Ticket" campaign.

Funding for the campaign was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Safety Administration.

--Bay City News Service