Sixteen ticketed for seat-belt violations

By LILA FUJIMOTO, Staff Writer
WAILUKU — State sheriff’s deputies joined Maui police traffic officers to ticket motorists who weren’t properly buckled up Wednesday morning in Wailuku, as Click It Or Ticket enforcement entered its first week.

During about 90 minutes on Main and Wells streets near Hoapili Hale, the 2nd Circuit Courthouse, 16 people were cited for seat-belt violations, said police traffic investigator Dukie Racadio, who is Click It Or Ticket coordinator for Maui County.

“The numbers are kind of low because compliance is kind of high,” Racadio said. “But we still have two and a half more weeks to go.”

Maui police last week announced the stepped-up statewide enforcement would begin Monday and continue through June 1. A few haven’t got the message although citation totals weren’t available except the special effort Wednesday.

With officers throughout the county stepping up enforcement of seat-belt violations, police are still compiling information on the number of tickets issued so far this week.

For those caught with their belts off, a citation carries a fine of $92.

Under state law, drivers and front-seat passengers must have seat belts buckled. Back-seat passengers under age 18 also must have belts on and all children 7 and younger must be in appropriate booster seats or child safety seats.

Shortly before the enforcement started, a state Department of Transportation survey showed Maui County had the highest rate of seat belt use in the state at 98.5 percent.

That appeared to be verified by the enforcement effort Wednesday.

Most vehicles passing the enforcement site had drivers and passengers with their belts in place. But there were a few times when as many as three cars were lined up in coned-off slots along Main Street, keeping the officers busy writing out citations.

“People are wearing their seat belts,” said Deputy Sheriff Wade Kamaka. “Not too many violators — that’s good for Maui County.”

“Everybody’s compliant, pretty much,” said fellow Deputy Sheriff Solomon Kaluhikaua.

The majority of those ticketed Wednesday morning were improperly wearing seat belts under the arm instead of over the shoulder, as they are designed to be used, Racadio said. By improperly using seat belts, vehicle occupants could face more serious injuries or even death in a crash, he said.

“We’re trying to get the word out that a seat belt can save your life if you’re wearing a seat belt properly,” Racadio said. “The chances of you living are very, very high.”

In many autopsies after fatal traffic crashes, the medical examiner has noted that the person might have survived if he had been wearing a seat belt, Racadio said.

He said most of those ticketed said “they just forgot.”

With six sheriff’s deputies joining in the ticketing Wednesday, police were hoping for more public awareness of the enforcement effort, Racadio said.

“Hopefully we can influence people to wear their seat belts more,” he said.

• Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.