Seat-belt violation citations jump The Laguna Beach...

Seat-belt violation citations jump

The Laguna Beach Police Department averaged 51 citations per day

during its 11-day crackdown on seat-belt violators, about five to 10

times more than on a typical day, Traffic Sgt. Jason Kravetz said.

Police cited 561 unbelted drivers and passengers between Nov. 17

and Sunday using a $10,000 state grant that paid officers overtime to

step up enforcement. The grant was issued as part of a statewide

seat-belt enforcement campaign that included 190 other police departments.

Overtime officers weren’t used on Thanksgiving or on the two

Wednesdays within the period so that some grant money would be left

by the end of the period, Kravetz said.

There were more citations than expected, Kravetz said, especially

as officers were given discretion to issue only warnings.