Capt. Sandra Tong: Don't Forget to 'Click It'

June marks the beginning of the summer as children begin their summer break and many of you begin planning trips and enjoying local, state and cross country attractions.

Before turning on the ignition or putting the gear into "drive," protect yourself and others by clicking your seat belt.

On the road in California the seat belt use-rate is 92.5 percent, which is significantly higher than the national average of 80 percent. California's teen seat belt use rate is 82.6 percent. There are still people who say seatbelts are uncomfortable and they "forget" to buckle, or feel they do not need to use them because they are going short distances. These are the primary reasons for not using a seat belt. Some fear getting a ticket with a fine more than they fear being injured or killed due to being unbelted in a crash.

In reality, a seat belt reduces a person's chances of dying in a crash by 50 percent. Of the 1,268 vehicles occupants killed in California in 2003 who were not wearing a seat belt, one half, or 634 people, would be alive today had they simply buckled up.

"Click It or Ticket" is a nationwide campaign to increase seat belt use. During the 2005 Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign, more than 250 police agencies in California issued approximately 155,000 seat belt citations to motorists and vehicles occupants who were not buckled up during the stepped-up effort. Fines for not wearing a seat belt range from $80 to $91 for the first offense to $191 for a second. Parents or other drivers who fail to put children in car seats pay $340 for the first offense and $871 for a second.

Whether due to the campaign's message or increasing fines, the percentage of people who regularly buckle up has increased. Taking a few seconds to buckle a seat belt is the most effective thing people can do to save their life when in a vehicular crash.

This year, the SF Police Department joined with 12,000 law enforcement agencies in the nationwide safety belt campaign, which ran from May 14 to June 4. Although the campaign is concluded, please continue to practice buckling up so that you and your family can have a safe and happy summer.

Update on Laurel Heights Robberies
Last month, I advised you about a series of robberies occurring in the Laurel Heights area. I am pleased to inform you, thanks to a coordinated community response with the Presidio Heights residents and merchants, S.F. Safe and the SF Police Department's robbery detail, the police department has made several arrests of individuals believed to have been responsible for a crime spree in the City.

Even though we believe the individuals are off the street, please continue to be aware of suspicious activity in your neighborhood and call the police for crimes in progress at 911, and 553-0123 for non-emergency calls.

This month's safety tip: Always remain alert and aware as to what is occurring around you. Opportunists aren't always looking for the oldest person or the weakest, but the easiest when they are looking for a victim.

Ways to keep safe on the street include:
• Walk confidently. Walking with a fixed gaze - up or down - implies preoccupation. Acting distracted is a big reason why tourists often get mugged;
• Keep alert of your surrounding. Try not to be distracted by other activities and show you are alert by moving your head from side to side and scanning the area around you;
• Keep your purse and other personal property close to your body. Put your wallet in an inside coat or front pants pocket, not in a back pocket.

The monthly Community/Police Forum will held on Tuesday, June 20, at 7 p.m., and will be hosted by the Booker T. Washington Community Center, located at 800 Presidio Ave. I will give a brief overview of crime in the immediate neighborhood.

Capt. Sandra Tong is the commanding officer at the Richmond Station.