Many South Shore police departments are among the 127 local agencies promising to crack down on seat-belt scofflaws.
The Hingham, Norwell and Rockland police announced this week that they plan to step up seat-belt enforcement during a three-week period as part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's "Click it or Ticket" campaign. The three-week period begins this coming Monday.
According to press releases from the police departments, thousands of police officers will be involved in stepped-up patrolling in Massachusetts.
The local departments that will be participating also include Abington, Braintree, Hanover, Milton, Quincy and Weymouth, according to the state's Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. The departments received funding from the office to pay for the extra officer hours needed for the enforcement.
Under state law, drivers and passengers who are not wearing a seat belt can be fined $25. Adult drivers can also be fined for passengers in their vehicle under the age of 16 who are not wearing a seat belt.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 49 percent of the people killed in crashes in Massachusetts in 2010 were unbelted.