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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0010.024 2006-2008 a~.o6--tq Wa Harry Kim r~'%'~~'~~~•, Lawrence K. Mahuna Mayor Police Chief ' ' Harry S. Kubojiri •~'~.o~.N~+r' Deputy Police Chief County of Hawaii POLICE DEPARTMENT 349 Kapiolani Stree[ • Hilo, Hawaii 96720-3998 (808) 935-3311 • Fax (808) 961-8869 November 4, 2007 TO PE E HOFFMAN, CO CIL CHAIR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM . I O RI, PHTY POLICE CHIEF ACTT OLICE C SUBJECT FINAL REPORT Name of Grant Program: Seatbelt Enforcement Federal or State Grantor: State Department of Transportation Public Affairs Office-Safe Community Program County Grantee DepartmenUAgency: County Police Department Grant No.: OP07-05(01-H-02) Amount of Grant: $59,000.00 Amount of County Match: None County Revenue & Expenditures Acct 010.201.5219.76, 3302.56 Grant Period: October 1, 2006 -September 30, 2007 Goals: See attached Objectives: See attached Outcomes: See attached Comm. No. ~ • Z Ref. To: Ref. Uate NOV_ 1 s~_ " Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer" SAFE COMMUNITY HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAM FINAL REPORT FFY 2006-2007 PROJECT TITLE: HCPD SEAT BELT ENFORCEMENT /OP07-OS (O1-H-02) Priority Area: I Area: Occupant Protection The goal of this project is to reduce fatalities and injuries to front seat occupants, and rear seat occupants aged 17 and under, of motor vehicle collisions by increasing the usage rate of seat belts to 90% and usage rate of seat belt by rear occupants aged 17 and under to 89%. The big Island suffers the lowest seat belt usage rate in the state with 89.58% and a backseat and passenger usage of 87.17%. Our goal is to focus on the Kau and South Kona districts of the island and bring our overall usage rate to over 90% Grant Strategies: 1. Conduct approximately 150 seatbelt checkpoints with emphasis on the South side of the island. 2. Issue 2400 citations for seatbelt and child restraint violations. 3. Issue 1,000 citations for other violations. 4. Affect 25 arrests of persons during enforcement projects. 5. Conduct media campaigns and provide public service announcements concerning seat belt usage, booster seats and child restraints. 6. Participate in national "Click It or Ticket" campaign. 7. Purchase 10 tint meters for Police Districts so that illegal tint laws may be enforced, which enable officers to better will observe seat belt and child seat violations. The Statewide Traffic Commanders Coalition has agreed that seat belt and child restraint enforcement should be coordinated statewide. FOURTH QUARTER FINAL REPORT • Conducted 25 highly visible seat ~~elt checkpoints island-wide in the fourth quarter. Total of 174 grant funded checkpoints conducted during the fiscal year. • Issued 230 seat belt and 9 child restraint citations at grant funded checkpoints in the fourth quarter. Total of 1128 seat belt and 56 child restraint citations issued during the fiscal year with grant funds. • Issued 110 citations for other violations in the fourth quarter. Total of 886 citations for other violations issued during the fiscal year. • Initiated 2 arrests for traffic and other violations in the fourth quarter. Total of 2 arrests for other violations made during the fiscal year. • Issued 67 moving citations at checkpoints during the fourth quarter. Total of 621 moving citations issued at checkpoints this fiscal year. Narrative• The goal of this grant was to reduce injuries by increasing the front passenger seat belt usage rate to 90%, and usage rate of rear seat occupants to 89%. These goals were surpassed. According to statistics compiled by the i;niversity of Hawaii during the "Click It or Ticket" seat belt enforcement campaign survey held during summer 2007, the Big Island's seat belt usage rate was measured at 97.57% for drivers and 96.99% for passengers. These figures boosted our overall percentage of compliance from 89.65%, to 97.42%, our highest usage rate to date. In an attempt to attain our usage rate, not all of the performance indicators listed under grant strategies was attained. The number of checkpoints conducted along with an intensive public information campaign, were the only strategies attained. The number of traffic citations issued for violations as well as seat belt and child restraint violations and number of arrests initiated utilizing grant funds were not attained and fell short. However, 2,512 seat belt and child restraint citations were issued in Hawaii County utilizing county and grant funds this fiscal year. Purchases of Tint Meters were allowed through department purchasing. Monies allotted for those purchases were utilized for enforcement instead. Checkpoints were also conducted during rnajor holidays and the "Click It or Ticket" mobilization. o....- HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT TRAFFIC SERVICES SECTION SERGEANT DEXTER VERIATO PHONE: 961-2305 MAY 9, 2007 MEDIA RELEASE Big Island Police are warning residents that the annual "Click It or Ticket" campaign for 2007 has begun. Sergeant Dexter Veriato, head of the Traffic Services Section, said roving patrols and seat belt enforcement checkpoints will be set up throughout the big Island. In addition, media spots will run and message boazds will be set up along Big Island highways. The effort is part of a national and statewide campaign urging awareness and the use of seat belts. "Although this campaign is from May 21 to June 3, 2007, seat belt and child restraint citations aze issued year round," Veriato said. During the twelve-month period last year, police issued 4,099 seat belt citations and 257 child restraint citations. In 2006, there were 33 fatal crashes on the Big Island, resulting in 39 deaths. Thirteen of those occupants were not restrained. "The survival rate of wearing your seat belt in a crash like that is almost 50 percent," noted Sergeant Veriato. "At least half of those lives could have been saved. We need the public's help" According to the last statewide survey, Hawaii County's seat belt usage rate was 94.2 percent, slightly lower than the statewide average. The same survey found that occupant and toddler restraint use was significantly lower on the Big Island. Police will enforce child passenger restraint laws and will ticket drivers if children under the age of four are not properly restrained in a child safety seat or in a booster seat until age seven. Unrestrained drivers and front seat passengers also will be cited. Hawaii's seat belt law requires those riding in the front seat to use their seat belts and those 17 and under to wear their seat belts it the back seat also. The fine for not weazing a seat belt is $92. Child restraint and booster seat violators must go to court and face a fine between $100-$500, and must attend afour-hour class. ~ ~ i r r 7 - _ i, ~ ~ 1 I Officer John Briski, recently certified Child Passenger Safety Technician educating children about using booster seats. 6 ~ ~ 1 r 9 I Caz Seat Checks in Kona by Officer Robin Cnxsat 7?C~~ • rr , NO BELT, NO SYMPATHY Addicte~ 4 - - to energ M,,.., _ Driving a hybrid car can ' a gas costs, combat terror By PETER SUR Tdbuse-Herold sniff wdM A 'toundmble" of energy chiefs, govt and community leaders and academics met in Hilo to discuss th~ of energy on Island. ~ Douns of t~ - ci ants he, ho,. us.T t^ _ Patti p - _ ~ emous Moanaho~ c., mow. at 'Imiloa Asvonomy - about the promice uvd p c :egy utTci~c in }-;wai_ Pvbli. ings were held Tuesday nigh[ in Hiio, and presentation is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Coda} u { (1 {_sa , ; p; ~ See ENERGY ~~i~ }z.- - - Water well Nwmr by WIWIIM MW/I,MUne-Nen10 Woodall Carter, one of three traffic enforcement police offcers manning a Click It orT¢ket vantage point Tuesday afternoon on the • Mohouli extension in Hilo, pulls coots Honda van akera spotter upthe road radices himthatboth occupants are unbuckled. Driver Ocean V,e~ and passenger immediately incur separate foes totaling a painful 5184. The Click It orTicket campaign runs through June 3. Parents should be especially careful to avoid child passenger restraint and child safety seat/booster seat violations, both of which will trigger De artment OF Water SU mandatory court appearances. For related stories, see pages AS-AT. P PP orficer - wants input on planned prc Carter ~III'~„j Ry IASON ARMSTRONG informs x s rill Tribune-Herold sraHwriter another ~ S The county Depatttnem of Water Supply driver that . J - sidering bringing water to Ocean View and shes been d~ heaz what residents think of me idea. pulled over „`F:'S 4 ~ DWS officials wBl out- because line We planned project Wi her pas- and answer the public's 11101 senger a _ _ questions az a 6 p.m. meet ~a unbuckled ing today at the Ocean „i,~,,,,,,,, In [hrs ~V Vtew Community Centu, 'art eknrbaa case, the 92-8924 Leilani Circle wace.t~ passengeg People unable m attend ~ ~ ssimm.m a16-year ~i the public meeting have _ old, chose until June 22 tv comment ~ ware,oea,n, on proposed project vs~aa,a °'F to assume / eemn=m,~,n responsi- The udGty is studying ,ps,rys%,r biliry for Qo~.~CE Neemironenentalimpac[s paying the C of dsiBing ao exploratory well on a one-acn 592 fine ~ - located within Paradise Circle Makai. himself. See WATHi WELL Booze battle Drug dealer sentenc ,v-I~S. surgeon general takes on Oahu man, nabbed by 'Weed and Seed,' gets 10 ierage drinking m HaWa? By ALANS[HNEPF Long known as Associated Press ~ w'\ Tribune-Heraldstaff writer aplace rife with dmg dealers and HONOLULU-By uniting families, com- , ~';y~,', An Oahu man busted toreocaine uses, [he parking muni[ies and schools, underage alcohol abuse - ! ~ man area targeted for dmg crimes lot is patl of a fed- can be fought on a societal level m help save F has been sentenced m 10 years in erelly designated lives, said acting Surgeon General Kenneth , ~ prison. "WeeA and Seed" Moritsugu on Tuesday. Police caught Phillip K. Bal- area in Pahoa. Moritsugu, who is visiting Hawaii to ~ tunado with three t-ounce bags Local residents BALTk launch the first of sYaro-by-state efforts against of cocaine in the parking lot of say there aze still ~,~n..A„> dd.,o-~.,~ ~".o,n~.,,. u~„ Pahoa's Akebono Theater. Prosecu- olrorv of drama r~w~ bra Hawaii Tribune-Merald A ~ p A I , r'~j _ _ _ _ Thursday, March 15, 2007 CS i, ~~IY~IY?U~1 I I SS program to Specifically, the funds will Ke i ki of be used to support the develop- he ment of a pilot program in an car-seat existing North Hawaii school, in providing training and ongo- " an mg professional development checks L_. :al in the AKOM model foc the b school's teachers and admin- _ s istrators, as well as for student i n Pahoa es support and for in-depth stu- ch dent assessments. , nd The funds will also enable Certified techs will ng continued support of teachers make sure safety ul and parents with implemen- tation of individual learning Seats are truly safe is plans, and improved tracking The state Department Ali of student progress' of Health and the Hawaii ;re For more information, Officers Kepa Fojas, Brad Feliciano and Tyson Mat- Police Department are sumura inspect a car seat in preparation for acheck- li- please contact North Hawaii working in partnership up event on Saturday, March 17, at the Pahoa Mar- :re Women and Children's Ser- with GEICO, Pahoa Weed n- vicee at 885-9378.Or log on to ketplace. and Seed, Church of the ng tl, b site, www.hawaiistu- Holy Cross and Neigh- installation of these vital Manoa Department of d~r«,-,~ccess.org. borhood Place of Puna to safety seats for keiki. Urban and Regional ~ sponsor a keiki caz-seat The event also will fed- Planning showed a state- s e e ks entries check at the Pahoa Maz- lure a drawing for a free wide usage rate of 79.86 ketplace on Saturday, booster seat, free juice and percent. The Big Island March 17, from 10 a.m. cookies and other give- ranked lowest, however, ~n works. All artwork displayed to noon. aways, said event coordi- with a 68.7 percent usage .he at the discretion of the Gallery The public is invited to nators. rate. :er Committee and decisions are let certified car sea[ techni- Anew law that went Research on the effec- final. trans check their caz seats into effect at the begin- trueness of child car seats ial An online prospectus can be for proper installation. Ten ning of the yeaz requires in passenger cars indicates he found at: www.ehcc.org. of the technicians recent- that all children under age a 71 percent reduction in 'et Registration, waiver and ly attended the National g be restrained in a child fatal injuries for infants in labels must be completed on Highway Traffic Safety seat unless the child is under 1 yeaz and a 54 es entry day at the EHCC on Sat- Administration's 32-hour taller than 4-foot-9 or the percent reduction for tod- ~n urday, March 31, from 8 a.m. certification course in vehicle is equipped with dlers, ages 1 through 4. td to noon. Fee for members of Hilo. They are now quali- lap-only seats in the back. For more information, ts. EHCC is $15 per entry for up fled to inspect child car Results from a 2006 please call Jackie Murai, ss to three entries. Non-member's seats as well as train oth- survey conducted by the HPD traffic safety coordi- fe fee is $25 per entry for up to ers in the proper use and University of Hawaii at nator, at 961-8879. d. three entries. For more infor- or matron call 935-9085 or 961- ilt 5711 or a-mail arts@ehcc.org. ks to rekindle entrepreneurial spirit in Hawaii da~ Business Ventures course, hinges, in part, on the Bevel- ing, taxation, and accounting with Dr. dePillis. This course opment of an entrepreneurial issues related to for-profit, produced the business plan spirit among Hawai is young not-for-profit and government which took first place in the people and I would like our organizations. lion as positive and relevant undergraduate division of the college to be part of [his. The college is pilot testing role models." 2006 business plan competi- Accountants take note, [he an online portfolio service, But, there are challenges lion. college is responding to the using technology t 'mprove to successful entrepreneur- To highlight entrepreneur- need for trained accountants. students' writing dulls. ~y°?a ii3~O~t'~3^3s is - v'Y 3:' velar=Lt A . ~oject • 'I~eatin L.aW: GIVe '~/Olilr i ism • ~t~ kelkl a boost ty grants more or public input Hawaii's new child safety seat law a Mountain due incomplete Eis ~ wiN be enforced starting in January aY ALAN 5[HNEPF ~ titre-HeraldsraHwriter tM 1ONN BURNEIT seat, also known as a'toddlu seat;' Tn'bunrHnald stall writer can accommodate. ents of a huge proposed = - "The child safety seat is the regu- iem have scored more time Ihmng [his holiday xason, par- Jar seat that you buckle a toddler re Ne builder's version of eats vnN cltildrrn under eight vould affect the environ- years old might wan[ to consider inwP said Sgt. Dexter Veriato, head puttivg a booster xat on their of the Hawah Police Ilepartrneni s ~fevelopmenL called Sea - shopping )is1. Traffic Semces Secdon.'"I7re i at Punalu0. has prompted As of Jan. 1, 2007, Hawah will boostu seat rs just like an extrnsron ' of critical levers evil e- become Ure 35th state m have a of your own car scat. h's a small rou into the Hawaii Cwvry booster seat law. The new law seat that will give the child a little Depabnen[ If apprpved. w',1 :evu re child:er, between more heighe so that u'~e regular seat homes. mostly condusruni- the ages of four and sevev ro beh will fit properly." old be the biggest project ride in a boostu seat Violators of Hawaii's Child 1 on the east side of the whenever travel- Passevgu Rutramt I.aw will be Its owners - ivclud- Tog m a tootor requved to auetM a fora-hau class y venroro. owner of tour vehKle. TM oily and rrtay be assessed a fine of exervptions are if between SI00 and 5500 depetating Ew MOUNfAW Page AB Ik child is ullu upon the ntwber of offrnxs. than 4 fee[ 9 inches a "They have to pay fm Nat class, if the vehicle has IapodY loo -it's 557," said Jackie Mluai, seat belts in the rear seaz. the deparmtent's traffic safety coor- The booster seat is for larger ' children thou a regular child safety See BOOSTER Page A8 igation • Child Passenger Safety fairs to a~ll~:i, 5 PRIMER jce time = 9kua Ditch fix C~~~.tial ~ = ~ ~ ~ y~~L~ y be a year away tip ~ , 3t'S ~ titt 1' f .r - teErnTRAxatNLU - ~ - Shphens/.fedp -sJ -ES']. g. A d take more Nan • year m ~~d. { As children grow, m~faN~rtgut« how they slt in ~ pliesmfarmcsiaNeHm- yourt~r,truckor _ ~ hattib acres, acorrdiag m SUV ahoultl a wfr ' + ' ;:culaual offirial. ~ ~ I I L mmy, Ne sum DgwtmmL change. Save your dime. which tnaoagee both child from injury ~ _ pkrsa soil Waimea irriga- M death by r ~ , mu, presorted the Federal ay Maasgemeut Agency observlflg an r}, --:vk e - t of heeded true m the two four steps ~ u' ~.~`}k#" ; ~ w Bing Nero buk m pre- # r status, said Brian Kau, - f ~ atadefGr retor evil chief engineu - f - _ - ~ ~mte IIOA. _ ~ ~ Peer and lower Iiamakva h;iaLMalrngla - ~ ~ .J.1Rr ~ i `i 'L~~~.. „w+.+Here damaged during the ....r..F ^arthquakes, vriN land- _ c:> ?'.~'~.e ~G ~Y:~d i:.rader 5kiotlld ride in 1~~FS Fecc a: Aping ware flow at all Sae D17Q1 Page A9 =Doctor: Keaau student was beyond resuscitation Johns Hopkins Hospital eardlok>gist said CPR wouldn't have saved Austin Me>-ers ~ ~ ~ ~d~'~~ r~~ f y gRE7~AGp1 lY applied -would have likely Hoepualcudiologut and aPertia mein or Edtrataon fonowing the agp. fa pain aril anffaiog, soil ,..w...a.. Ire1Md Iv wve Austin Mryera' prdioraapuffi rtwerdtetioa who colLoee of hfeYrn efts a Keaau u,.. e.~....:.wrti. BOOSTER From front page more damage than good for Bator. yeazs. Booster seats can be the child. lowever, the most compel- The proper use of child purchased at many stores s`Ytng reason for using a booster passenger restraints, such as thatseiltoys,chAdren's "So children should be in seat is the safety of the child. a booster seat, is the most furniture or other items aimed at the toddler seat until they meet "More than 700 children important factor in prevent- parents. Several large discount the height and weight require- between the ages of four and ing death and injury in a caz drains carryaselectionoftwoster ment for a booster seat. Usu- seven are involved in major car crash, according to the KIPC. ally, after 40 pounds, they can crashes in Hawaii each yeaz Seat belts are designed for go into a booster seat" and caz crashes are the lead- older children and adults, no[ SOOrtef seats also be purchased The following locations ing cause of death for children for children under the age of onNrtethrough avanetyofverrdors. are child safety seat inspec- over one yeaz of age," Murai eight, whose size and physical t.odcing fora bca6on rrearyoutliy lion stations on the Big Island. said. development make seat belts typ+"y •p~ter seatf' i"w ya,r They will also inspect booster Statisfics cited by the Keiki less effective, and in some favorite intemet search ergirre. seats. Be sure to call for an Injury Prevention Coalition cases, unsafe. appointment first. Locations Web site at www.kipchawaii. "It is recommended that can st311 use the regular toddler are: Department of Health, org show that children unre- the child stay in the back seat seat. Because it's much safer 1582 Kamehameha Ave. in strained by seat belts are at because the back seat is saf- to have them in a regulaz haz- Hilo, call John Kaizuka at least 50 percent more at risk est for the child," Murai said. Hess type of seat - up to 40 933-0911; Safe Drivers Hawaii for injury than children in a "You also want to avoid the pounds, they can still use the at 851 Leilani S[. in Hilo, child safety seat or booster child sitting in front of an air regulaz toddler seat with the call Curt Hong at 959-4233; seat. According to the KIPC, bag. If the child is older, it's harness straps. Malama Hoopili Pono Keawe there aze about 68,000 children still recommended that the "But if the child is too Health Center at 46 Keawe St. in Hawaii ages 4 to 8. child stay in the back seat small, the booster seat can in Hilo, call Sandy Tomiyama There is also an added because the safes[ place from pose a danger because the at 974-4290; Ka`u Resource incentive for purchasing a any angle is the back middle child can easily fly out of the Center at 96-3126 Puahala St. booster seat. A state tax credit seat:' booster seat. And if the child in Pahala, call Jessie Marques of $25 per year applies to the One mistake that parents is too small for a booster seat, at 928-0101; Laupahcehce purchase of a booster or child commonly make, according -4fety sea[. The cost of a good to Murai, is to try to put rod- the vehicle's shoulder harness Train Museum at 36-2377 lity high-back booster seat dlers into booster seats when can cut across their neck and Mamalahoa Highway in Lau- '~,,,rabout $45. This is a "corn- they should still be in the child the lap belt=can go high up on pahcehce, call Doug Connors bination" booster seat, which safety seats. their stomach area, and that at 962-6300; and Kealakekua means it can be purchased A lo[ of parents tend to put can cause internal damage to Health Center at 81-980 and used as a caz seat when children into booster seats too their organs. The strongest Halekii S[., Suite 103 in Keal- the child is younger than four eazly," she said. "They want to parts of our bodies are the hips akekua, call Carrie Kuwada at yeazs. When the child is four, get the child using the booster and the shoulders and if the 322880. it can be converted to a booster seat before they're ready to belts azen't on those areas,-the " ~ lohn Burned can be reached ar sea[ and used for the next four use it, because a lot of ehjldren vehicle's safety belts can cause jbume"@lwwtu(tribune-hemldcom. DITCH From front page four intakes in Waimea and i `p.:j~kci ~ but it will probably take a yeaz in Paauilo can pump about two of three intakes along the + ~ or so. But we intend to get 400,000 gallons a day and se{; lower Hamakua Ditch. Area r ; ~ water into the ditch a heck of a we're using about half of that. farmers, with the help of state lot anoner~" We have 200,000 gallons avail- Civil Defense and the National To do that, Kau said, the able, of which we can provide Guard, were able to manually DOA has identified a route to 100,000 gallons to agriculture cleaz intakes along the upper bring a pipeline through mauka u~t.3.+ ditch last weekend, allowing Paauilo to the dttch ~ then While officials aze still water to resume flow to the 60 into the reservoir, bypassing struggling to get water back million anon Waimea Reser- the clogged intakes. Kau said voir for Mora e. That reservoir r he hopes to have that project to capacity for farmers, there g aze several sources of funding is at 27 feet, and a voluntary ;,a to a contractor by Monday, but 10 percent water conservation I~ said it could take up to five available to assist with repair- p,,.remains inplace, DOA officials weeks before the pipeline is ing earthquake-related dam- ~.d. The upper ditch serves thoroughly assessed. Officials finished. age on farm and ranch lands. ~;~,,~n~icultural land from White have been unable to complete a Meanwhile, farmers using Farmers have until Thursday Road to the Lalamilo Farnt full damage assessment of the the lower Hamakua irrigation to apply for agrant-reimburse- Lots. ditch because much of the area ditch remain under a 30 percent ment through the Farm Services The situation is more criti- remains unstable and after- mandatory water consumption Agency with the U.S. Depart- cal and less fixable along the ShOCk3 make it too dangerous whtch is strangling ment of Agricul[tue, FSA rep- lower ditch, which serves farms to go through a tunnel that is their businesses, fazmers told resentative Lee Kunitake said. and ranches from White Road Several miles long, Kau said. officials Monday. The county The program will reimburse ~ , k~ , ~ ~ . 'Click It or T'icket' is coming Police are advising According to the last residents that the annual survey, Hawaii County's "Click It or Ticket" cam- seat belt usage rate was paign has begun. 94-2 percent, slightly low- Sgt. Dexter Veriato says er than the statewide aver- roving patrols and seat belt age. The survey also found enforcement checkpoints that passenger and toddler will be set up around the restraint was significantly Big Island from May 21 to lower on the Big Island. June 3. T)?e effort is part Police will enforce child of a national and statewide passenger restraint laws campaign urging awareness and will ticket drivers if and the use of seat belts. children under the age of 4 Although this campaign are not properly restrained runs just two weeks, "seat in a child safety seat or in belt and child restraint a booster seat until age 7. citations aze issued yeaz Unrestrained drivers and round," Veria[o said. Last front seat passengers will year police issued 4,099 be cited as well. seat belt citations and 257 Hawaii's seat belt law child restraint citations. requires those riding in In 2006, there were 39 the front seat to use their people died in 33 crashes seat belts and those 17 and on the Big Island. Thirteen under to weaz their seat of those victims were not belts in the back seat also. restrained. "The survival The fine for not wearing rate of wearing your seat a seat belt is $92. Child belt in a crash like that is restraint and booster seat almost 50 percent," Veri- violators must go to court ato noted. "At least half and face a fine between of those lives could have $100 and $500, and must been saved. We need the also attend a four-hour public's help" class. HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT TRAFFIC SERVICES SECTION SERGEANT DEXTER VERIATO PHONE: 961-2305 May 9, 2007 MEDIA RELEASE Big Island Police are warning residents that the annual "Click It or Ticket" campaign for 2007 has begun. Sergeant Dexter Veriato, head of the Traffic Services Section, said there will be roving patrols and seat belt enforcement checkpoints set up throughout the big Island. In addition, there will be media spots and message boards set up along our highways. The effort is part of a national and statewide campaign urging awareness and usage of seat belts. "Although this campaign is from May 21 to June 3, 2007, seat belt and child restraint citations are issued year round" Veriato said. During the twelve month peiod of last year, police issued 4,099 seat belt citations and 2'7 child restraint citations. In 2006, there were 33 fatal crashes on the Big Island, resulting in 39 deaths. Thirteen of those occupants were not restrained. "The survival rate of wearing your seat belt in a crash like that is almost 50%" noted Sergeant Veriato. "At least half of those lives could have been saved, we need the public's help." According to the last statewide survey, the County of Hawaii's seat belt usage rate was 94.2%, slightly lower than the state's average. The same survey found that occupant and toddler restraint use was significantly lower. Police will enforce child passenger restraint laws and ticket drivers if children under the age of four are not properly restrained in a child safety seat or in a booster seat until age seven. Drivers and front seat passengers will also be cited. Hawaii's seat belt law requires those riding in the front seat to use their seat belts and those 17 and under to wear their seat belts ~,i the back seat also. The fine for not wearing a seat belt is $92. Child restraint and booster seat violators must go to court and face a fine between $100-$500, and must attend a four hour class.