Drivers who do not buckle their seat belts to protect their lives are now buckling to protect their wallets.

“We’re trying to get at young people, particularly young males, who do not perceive the risk that they may get hurt,” said Mike Witter, regional highway safety program manager. “Getting a ticket is what they really don’t like.”

A law passed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich July 3 made seat belt violation a primary offense.

“Now vehicles can be pulled over just for the violation of not wearing seat belts,” Witter said.

A seat belt violation fine is $25 without regard to court fees. Witter estimated a $75 overall cost evolves from the violation.

The “Click it or Ticket” campaign, which is in its third year in Illinois, is an ongoing program designed to target seat belt violations and increase belt usage.

Enforcement zones, a concept Illinois picked up from Indiana, have been set up periodically throughout the state. Officers have issued 3,300 citations from 250 enforcement zones.

Witter said officers stand in the “zone” which is typically at an intersection, and stop and fine vehicles violating seat belt rules.

“A sign, a big sign is posted well before the enforcement area.”

Although county and university police are enforcing this law, none of the agencies are participating in the campaign’s zero tolerance enforcement aspects due to low manpower.

Officer Art Mitchell from the University Police Department said seat belt violation ticketing is routine for the department and that statistics are submitted to the campaign as they occur.

“We’re a part of it,” he said. “But we don’t do special enforcement because of our campus jurisdiction.”

A spokesman for the county sheriff’s department said officers are issuing tickets, but the department is unable to dedicate patrol specifically for seat belt offenses at this time.

Witter said that since “Click it or Ticket” began in 2000, surveys show 725,000 more people have started “buckling up” routinely.

Statistics show that Illinois is currently at a 76 percent belt use rate and has set a goal to raise it by at least 10 percent.

Conservative projections show that an 11 percent raise would save an additional 100 lives per year, prevent 2,800 injuries and save about $320 million dollars a year, Witter said.

“If we can raise into the 80-90 percentile, we can start to penetrate the higher risk drivers.”

Young males are the target group because they have the greatest tendency to find themselves “invincible” and choose not to wear seat belts, Witter said.

He said many drivers are avoiding facts about the risks of riding in vehicles without seat belts.

“They think ‘it only affects me,'” Witter said. “That is not true.”

Car accidents cost victims, families, insurance companies and taxpayers.

Others who choose not to wear their seat belts claim the belts won’t offer incredible protection in an accident.

“A vehicle passenger is four times more likely to die if thrown from the car,” Witter said.

Injury and death dangers significantly decrease with seat belt use.

Witter said a goal behind “Click it or Ticket” is to make seat belt use a habit.

“It takes (people) 21 days of practice to make something a habit,” he said.

The campaign is not expected to end anytime in the very near future.

“Within the first year anniversary of the law, by next July 3, I guarantee we’ll see more lives saved in the state.”

City Editor Carly Mullady can be reached at [email protected] Tim Martin