The Gainesville Police Department's enforcement of Florida's June seat belt law is no joke.
During the first month of enforcement, GPD issued 24.5 percent more tickets than it did in July 2008, and 32.5 percent more tickets were given this August than in August 2008.
Before the law went into effect, people could only be cited for not wearing seat belts if they were pulled over for another offense. Now, it's a primary offense - officers can pull over a car if the driver or passenger is not wearing a seat belt.
In Alachua County, the fine for not wearing a seat belt is $104.
Thomas Baker, an aerospace engineering senior, said he thinks the law is an attempt to raise revenue in a bad economy.
"The police department is more like a bill collector than a law enforcer," Baker said.
Lauren Profis, a UF freshman, said she could see why it would be difficult for law enforcement to effectively enforce seat belt violations and has some concerns about abuse.
"I don't know how a police officer could identify a violation while the car is in moving," Profis said.
But GPD Cpl. Michael West said that at the speeds cars travel around Gainesville, it is not difficult to detect a violation.
He added that officers must be certain before they pull someone over for a seat belt violation.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, failure to wear a seat belt contributes to more fatalities than any other single traffic safety-related behavior.
About 63 percent of people killed in automobile accidents were not wearing seat belts at the time of the accident.
Amy Meyer, a UF sophomore, said the increased enforcement is a good sign and could end up saving lives.
"I have personally known two friends who died in car crashes," Meyer said. "They probably would have survived if they had been wearing their seat belts."
