Avenal plans to step up seat belt enforcement in the coming weeks as part of the statewide "Click It or Ticket" campaign. "There is absolutely no question that seat belts can save lives," Sheriff Chris Jordan said in a written statement. "Buckling up will not only save you a heavy fine, it can also save your life."

In an effort to "make sure everyone in the family gets home safely this holiday season," the Sheriff's Office substation in Avenal will increase the number of patrols from now until the end of November to ensure everyone on the road is driving with a seat belt.

"This is an all-year thing, but we are especially focusing on enforcement just before the holiday season," said Sgt. Pete Thompson with the Avenal Substation.

The Sheriff's Office said that no warnings will be given to people found breaking the seat belt law.

"We don't always have accidents here in Avenal, but there are many out on the Cutoff as people drive to and from Hanford," Thompson said. "A good portion of the people who end up severely injured are people not wearing seat belts. A lot of times, it is the kids who end up getting hurt, because they aren't properly restrained in a car seat."

Deputies in Avenal recently conducted a survey to see how many people on the road were traveling without a safety belt. Out of 100 cars, only five were seen in violation of the law.

This number closely mirrors the state average of 95.4 percent of drivers complying with the law. However, the California Office of Traffic Safety is quick to point out that this still means 1.5 million people are not buckling up.

"There are no excuses. Nothing is worth risking the lives of you or your family," Office of Traffic Safety Director Christopher Murphy said. "This should be the season of joy and thanksgiving, not tragedy."

More than 175 local law enforcement agencies statewide and the CHP will be participating in this year's Click It or Ticket mobilization. Funding to support this initiative is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2425.

(Nov. 17, 2009)