HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC SERVICES SECTION
SERGEANT RANDY K. APELE
PHONE: 961-2305
JANUARY 14, 2003

MEDIA RELEASE

Big Island police issued 4,316 citations for seat belt violations last year at checkpoints around the island.

Sergeant Randy Apele, head of the Traffic Services Section, said the citations were issued at 446 seat belt checkpoint projects conducted throughout the Big Island in 2003.

Besides issuing citations for seat belt violations, police officers also issued 117 citations for failure to use child restraints and 3,524 citations for other violations.

In addition, they made 131 arrests for various offenses, including felony drug violations, drunk driving and firearms violations as well as of suspects wanted on bench warrants.

According to State Transportation Department statistics, seatbelt usage has increased on the Big Island — from 80 percent in 2000 to 89 percent in 2002 to 90.6 percent in 2003.

Seat belt enforcement checkpoints are funded by the State Transportation Department and federal grants. The goal is to decrease injuries and fatalities by increasing seat belt usage rates.

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