'BUCKLE UP' MESSAGE OF SAFETY EFFORT.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

NEWHALL - Motorists and passengers who don't buckle up will be the target of a holiday weekend crackdown on people who shun seat belts.

As part of the California Seat Belt Campaign, the California Highway Patrol is ticketing drivers who ignore the state law to buckle up. The increased effort began Monday and will continue through Sunday.

``Some people still refuse to wear their seat belt,'' said CHP Officer Doug Sweeney, of the Newhall CHP station. ``Some people forget and some people just don't care.''

The issue is one of safety, particularly with the added holiday traffic.

``There's a direct correlation between fatal and serious injury collisions and not wearing seat belts,'' Sweeney said.

The seat belt campaign is being financed in part by a $4 million grant from the National Highway Safety Administration, using the slogan ``Remember or be Remembered.''

About 91 percent of Californians use seat belts - the highest compliance ratio in the nation - but the CHP is targeting that remaining 9 percent.

``The holidays should be a time for celebrations, not tragedies,'' Gov. Gray Davis said in a news release. ``The California Highway Patrol will crack down on those who disregard the law.''

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department also is participating in the effort and using a $13,000 grant from the Office of Traffic Safety.

``We have dedicated cars strictly enforcing seat belt laws,'' said Deputy Mike Shapiro, adding that there are about four deputies a day watching for violators. ``I can't believe there's still so many people not wearing their seat belts.''

In the first two days of participation in the program, the deputies from the local station issued 70-75 tickets, compared with five on a typical day.

``It's not about how many tickets, it's about the safety,'' Shapiro added. ``We have a high number of collisions and we want people safe.''

Also over the holiday weekend, the CHP will carry out maximum enforcement efforts with additional officers on patrol throughout the unincorporated areas of the Santa Clarita Valley.

Aside from seat belt violations, officers will focus on drunk drivers and aggressive drivers, Sweeney said.

Alcohol-related fatalities are on the rise in California for a third consecutive year, according to the Governor's Office..

Local statistics buck that statewide trend. Last year, there were no fatal wrecks in the area over the four-day holiday weekend.

``Last year we were lucky, the Newhall station area had no fatal accidents,'' Sweeney said. ``We had one in 1999, which was related to DUI and racing.''

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(ran in SAC edition only) The California Highway Patrol and Sheriff's Department are stepping up enforcement of seat belt laws for motorists such as these heading out for holiday travel on the I-5.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer