The Antioch and Brentwood police departments will be aggressively enforcing the state's occupant protection laws as part of California's 2008 Click It or Ticket mobilization, which takes place May 12 through June 1.

The campaign relies on heavy enforcement and public education as a means to help California achieve the highest seat-belt-use rate in the nation. California is currently fourth in the nation at 94.6 percent.

We want to make sure that all drivers and passengers buckle up on every ride, day and night, said Brentwood Police Chief Mark Evenson. Our officers will be on the lookout for those who are not buckled up and for teens and children not riding properly restrained. We will not accept excuses or give warnings. It's Click It or Ticket.

California's primary seat belt law requires every passenger in a vehicle, including the driver, to wear a seat belt at all times. If a driver is stopped and found to be in violation, a citation will be issued without warning. Tickets for first seat-belt violations range from $80 to $91 for adults and $330 to $401 for children under age 16, depending on the county.

We're doing well, with nearly 95 percent buckling up: fourth highest in the nation, said Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety Christopher J. Murphy. That's 1.5 million more people protected from death and injury by using seatbelts since the Click It or Ticket campaign started in 2005. But we can do better yet. I urge everyone to always buckle up.

While the buckle-up rate for adults has continued to climb in recent years, California's teen rate (88.9 percent in 2007) lags behind the general population.