11 PM Update:
New York State Troopers and Camillus Police handed out at least a dozen tickets Monday night during a joint crackdown on seat belts. Officers were set up on Hinsdale Road in Camillus on the first day of this 2-week state-wide enforcement period.
Troopers say the majority of victims who die in fatal car crashes are not wearing seat belts which is why they are hoping a ticket can be a wake-up call to buckle up. If you get caught behind the wheel without a seat belt on, the ticket could cost you at least $100. New York State law requires all front seat passengers, and rear seat passengers under 16 to be buckled. Officers say drivers can be held responsible for their passengers violating the law.
You'll likely see more checkpoints and officers out looking for seat belt violations in the next couple weeks. The crackdown runs through June 5th. Last year, more than 22,000 tickets were handed out to drivers not wearing their seat belts across the state.
Previous Coverage:
It's time to "Buckle Up," New York. State, county and local police are teaming up for another round of seat belt enforcement.
The two week "Buckle Up" seat belt campaign begins Monday and ends June 5th. Last years crackdown resulted in more than 2,000 tickets for motorists in Onondaga County and more than 50,000 statewide.
Capt. Steve Rotunno of the Camillus Police Department says, this year, police will be setting up checkpoints at night and also looking for motorists who are not wearing their seat belts properly.
"We see a lot of folks rolling up to checkpoints that have their seat belts behind their back or underneath their arm and that is the improper way and you can be pulled over and you can actively be ticketed for that," he says.
Onondaga County Undersheriff Warren Darby says 90 percent of motorists are now wearing their seat belts but the remaining 10 percent still need to be convinced. " It's a tough 10 percent. Sometime they need to be ticketed they need a sanction of some type to help convince them that they need to do it," he says.
