98 Tickets Issued in Burlingame Crackdown

The San Mateo County Police Chiefs & Sheriff Association STEP program conducted two specialized night-time Seat Belt Enforcement Operations in the City of Burlingame on Friday, November 7th and Friday November 14th, in an effort to lower deaths and injuries on San Mateo County roadways.

The increased education and enforcement aims to persuade drivers and passengers to properly buckle-up and recognize the dangers of not wearing a seat belt. Burlingame Chief of Police Eric Wollman said, “Every 15 seconds, someone is injured in a vehicle crash. When worn correctly, safety belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to people in the front seat by 45 percent.”

In these two night-time operations, 98 citations and 13 warnings were issued. 42 citations were for the driver failing to wear a seat belt, 32 citations were for passengers failing to wear a seat belt, four citations were for parents not requiring their children (under 16) to wear their seat belt, and three citations were for driving unlicensed. Additionally, eight drivers were cited for operating a cell phone without a hands free device.

State and local law enforcement will be cracking down on traffic safety violations this holiday season to help save lives, and lower deaths and injuries due to crashes.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.