HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC SERVICES SECTION
SERGEANT RANDY K. APELE
PHONE: 961-2305
MAY 28, 2002
MEDIA RELEASE
Big Island police have issued a total of 313 citations for seat belt and child restraint violations since May 20, 2002, the beginning of the statewide “Click It or Ticket” campaign.
The federally funded project is aimed at increasing the use of seat belts and child restraint seats throughout Hawaii.
In addition, police officers issued 179 other miscellaneous citations at a total of 31 seat belt checkpoint locations.
During the seat belt campaign, police officers will be checking for seat belt violations from Wednesday (May 29, 2002) through Tuesday (June 4, 2002) at the following checkpoint locations around the island:
Kuakini Highway at Hualalai Road, Kuakini Highway at Hawaii Belt Road, Hawaii Belt Road at City of Refuge Road, Hind Road in Captain Cook, Kalani Street at Kalawa Street, Hawaii Belt Road at South Point Road, Alii Drive at Kamehameha III Road.
Queen Kaahumanu Highway at Hapuna Beach Road, Kawaihae Road at Queen Kaahumanu Highway, Palani Road at Queen Kaahumanu Highway, Kohala Mountain Road at Scenic Point, Wal-Mart in Kona, Kona Coast Shopping Center, Pakalana at Lehua.
Kanoelehua at Hualani Street, Hawaii Belt Road at Laupahoehoe Police Station Road, Kamehameha Avenue at Kalanianaole Street, Kaumana at Komohana Street, Wal-Mart in Hilo, Punahele at Halai.
Hawaii Belt Road at Oshiro Road, Kanoelehua Avenue at Kawailani Street, Keaau-Pahoa Road by Pahoa Post Office, Malaai Road at Hoaka Road.
State law mandates that all front seat occupants and occupants under 18 years of age, regardless of where they are sitting, must wear seat belts. In addition, children under 4 years of age must be properly restrained in a child restraint.
The fine for failure to comply with the law is $67 if paid before the scheduled court date. If paid on or after the scheduled court date, the fine increases to $92.
Hawaii County’s seat belt compliance rate has been estimated at more than 86 percent, according to Sergeant Randy Apele, head of the Traffic Services Section. The Big Island’s goal this year is to attain a 90 percent compliance rate, Apele said.
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