State Police are joining 83 other Maine law enforcement agencies for the next two weeks in the annual “Buckle Up – No Excuses” campaign cracking down on those who don’t use their seat belts. Troopers will join local police departments and deputy sheriffs in the two week enforcement effort that runs through June 2. The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety has distributed just over $178,000 in federal highway safety funding to assist in the effort, which will pay for officer’s overtime. The Maine effort coincides with the national campaign called “Click It or Ticket,” which involves police from across the county.

The Chief of the Maine State Police, Colonel Robert Williams said, “Too many drivers and passengers are not wearing their seat belts, and half of the highway deaths this year in passenger vehicles were victims not buckled up.”

The Bureau of Highway Safety reports there have been 30 highway deaths in passenger vehicles and 15 of the victims were not wearing a seat belt.

Williams said the two week enforcement effort is similar to the beefed up enforcement of State Troopers during in the first three months of the year. In that effort, troopers handed out 2,478 summons for not wearing seat belts and another 2,549 warnings during January, February and March.

A seat belt summons in Maine costs $70 for the first offense (including court costs), $160 for the second and $310 for the third violation.