Child Safety Seat, Seat Belt Crackdown Set For Watsonville

WATSONVILLE, CA — The Watsonville Police Department and law enforcement agencies throughout California will be out in full force during the Click It or Ticket campaign that runs May 20-June 2. Extra officers will be on patrol looking for drivers and passengers who are not buckled up, including drivers who do not secure children in child safety seats, according to the Watsonville PD. In California, the fine for a seat belt violation is $162, and $490 for failing to secure a child in the proper safety seat.

Under California law, children under 2 years old, weighing under 40 pounds and under 40 inches tall are required to be in a rear-facing car seat. Children under the age of 8 must be secured in a car or booster seat in the back seat.

At 96.2 percent, California has one of the highest seat belt use rates in the nation. However, 532 people killed in crashes statewide last year were not wearing a seat belt, the Watsonville PD reported.