Captain Jason Berry
Government and Media Relations
(360) 596-4010 – office
(360) 596-4015 – fax
http://www.wsp.wa.gov
*** For Immediate Release***
Date:
June 16, 2010
Contact:
Trooper Rich Magnussen
Phone:
(509) 670-2255
E-mail:
Richard.Magnussen@wsp.wa.gov
Improperly Worn Seat Belts Can Result in $124 Ticket
Troopers in North Central Washington will be cracking down on motorists who wear their seatbelt improperly. Seatbelts must be worn and adjusted properly as intended by the vehicles manufacture. Occupants who improperly wear their seatbelt are in violation of the states seatbelt law and could face a $124 infraction.
Wearing a seatbelt properly will greatly increase your chances of surviving a collision. When a seatbelt is worn correctly, it will apply most of force from the collision across the chest and pelvis, which are better able to withstand collision forces. Wearing a seatbelt loosely or placing the shoulder strap under your arm or behind your back, could, in the event of a collision, result in an injury-producing impact with the vehicles interior, or ejection from the vehicle. Wearing a lap belt across the stomach, instead of low across the hips, allows collision forces to be applied to the soft tissue of the body, increasing chances of injury.