Stricter Seat Belt Law Takes Effect Jan. 1

Beginning Jan. 1, police officers may stop drivers for failing to buckle up, parking violations will no longer be criminal offenses and repeat drunk drivers will have to take breath tests before they start their cars.

These are among the hundreds of new California traffic laws that go into effect New Year’s Day as outlined this week by officials from the California Highway Patrol, Department of Motor Vehicles and other agencies.

The seat belt law means that officers will be able to stop a driver whose only violation is failure to wear a seat belt. Until now, police and the CHP could cite unbelted drivers only if they had broken another law, such as speeding or running a red light.

“It just makes it a more effective enforcement tool. We estimate that this will save 400 to 500 lives,” said Robert Carter, CHP legislative representative.

Officials warned that people also will be cited for not wearing their seat belts properly, such as moving the belts aside so they do not wrinkle clothes.

The CHP will set up seat belt checkpoints this month to tell drivers about the law. Carter stressed that the checkpoints are only to inform, not to catch unbuckled drivers. But the law will be strictly enforced next month, officials said.

Also beginning Jan. 1, anyone twice convicted of drunk driving will be required to install a breath-analyzer device in his or her car. To start the car, the driver must breathe into the device, which detects alcohol. If it detects liquor, the car will not start. The device is able to determine if another person is breathing into it.

Convicted drivers will pay for the alcohol detectors, which cost between $400 and $600.

Another major change in 1993 will be the statewide expansion of freeway service patrols, which have proven successful in Los Angeles County. The multi-agency service tows stranded motorists off freeways when they are blocking traffic.

Another law cracks down on polluters by allowing the use of remote sensors to identify vehicles that do not comply with smog regulations.