Seatbelt Violations Prompt Infractions, Warnings

Police report that a recent campaign to more strictly enforce seatbelt laws has resulted in more motorists in town using the safety devices while on the road.

Police based that finding on counts that they took on the number of motorists using seatbelts both before and after the enforcement campaign.

Police said this week that during the two-week enforcement project, which ended June 6, they issued 65 infractions for failure to wear a seatbelt and gave out 18 warnings for that offense. The infraction, which is appealable in court,  carries a $92 fine.

Police also issued 12 infractions for speeding and 22 warnings for speeding. Police made one arrest for driving under the influence. Also, police issued 39 citations and 81 warnings for miscellaneous offenses.

As part of the heightened enforcement project, a team of police officers from five towns, including Newtown, visited each of those five towns for seatbelt enforcement checkpoints. Police from Newtown, Brookfield, Bethel, Ridgefield, and Redding participated in that project.