TORONTO – The Ontario Provincial Police have launched a safety blitz to remind drivers about seat belt compliance and will be out on the roads to enforce the practice over the Easter long weekend.
“Taking a few seconds to buckle up makes far more sense than going through the motions of being pulled over, being issued a ticket, having to pay a minimum $240 fine and more importantly, it will go a long way to keeping you alive in the event of a collision,” said OPP Deputy Commissioner Larry Beechey in a media release.
OPP officials say many motorists and passengers often let their guard down when spring arrives, especially when they see the snow melt and dry pavement.
In 2012, 71 people were killed in collisions within OPP jurisdiction involving an occupant who did not wear a seatbelt and so far this year, there have been eight deaths.
Below are some quick facts about seatbelt laws from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation.
– All Ontario motor vehicle drivers and passengers must wear a seat belt in a properly adjusted and securely fastened manner.
-A driver can be charged and face a fine totaling $240 ($200 set fine, $35 victim surcharge, $5 court costs) and two demerit points for seat belt infractions.
-Demerit points remain on a driving record for two years from the date of the offence.
-All motor vehicle drivers are responsible for ensuring that all children under 16 years of age are properly secured in a seat belt or an appropriate child car seat or booster seat.
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