MANATEE — Drivers might start seeing along Florida highways those “click it, or ticket signs” that are so ubiquitous in many other states.

A state law went into effect today giving law enforcement officers authority to pull over and ticket drivers and front seat passengers for not wearing seat belts.

Before today they could write tickets for failing to buckle up only if the motorist was stopped for speeding or another traffic offense.

The Florida Highway Patrol will strictly enforce the new law that the Legislature passed and Gov. Charlie Crist signed earlier this year.

“The seat belt law has been in effect since 1986,” said Lt. Chris Miller, spokesman for the FHP F Troop post in Manatee County. “It was only a secondary violation, now it’s a primary violation.

“There’s always been a zero tolerance policy on failure to wear seat belt violations,” Miller said.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, primary seat belt laws reduce vehicle crash deaths and injuries.

The federal agency estimates 124 lives in Florida will be saved each year with the new law, as well as 1,733 serious injuries prevented and $408 million saved in associated costs.

These statistics have motivated local law enforcement agencies to take the failure to use seat belts seriously.

“This is an opportunity to save lives,” said Deputy Chief Jeffrey Lewis, of the Bradenton Police Department. “It’s been proven seat belts save lives in crashes.”

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies are aware of the changes in the law and will be watching for violators, said Randy Warren, spokesman for the sheriff’s office.

“Specifically the traffic unit will be looking for drivers and front seat passengers not wearing safety restraints,” Warren said. “The sheriff’s office is taking this seriously.”

He said there’s been a lot of promotion and education in the media and people should be aware of the changes in the law.

A violation will cost a driver $116, Warren said.

The national average of safety restraint usage is 83 percent, while in Florida it was only 81 percent.

Of the 27 states that have statutes similar to Florida’s new law, the usage is 87 percent.

Miller said the excuse for not wearing seat belts range from it being uncomfortable to that it wrinkles clothing.

“To some young people, wearing a seat belt is prudish or uncool,” Miller said.

The tragic crash Monday at Interstate 75 and State Route 70 that left one teen dead and another critically injured was a good example of what can happen without safety restraints, he said.

“Both were not wearing seat belts and were ejected from the truck,” Miller said. “Now two families will get a knock on their door with the worse news you can get.”

Regardless of consequences, many people feel the new laws allow government to intrude in their lives.

“Seat belts save lives; we recognize that,” said Howard Simon, executive director of the Florida American Civil Liberties Union. “Should people wear seat belts? Of course.”

But the issue is “how to encourage people to wear seat belts,” Simon said.

Fasten your seat belt -- or it'll be costly ride

— The Miami Herald contributed to this report.

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