Officers participating in a statewide enforcement effort issued 49 citations for seat belt violations between Oct. 26 and Nov. 1.

This brings the total number of seat belt citations issued in the first 10 weeks of the campaign to 644.

The enforcement and awareness mobilization, which launched Aug. 1, is part of a four-month long safety initiative created after results from observational seat belt surveys conducted by the Office of Highway Safety in June revealed that the state’s 2009 statewide use rate declined from 91 percent last year to 88 percent this year.

To date this year, 59 percent of drivers and passengers killed since January 1st have not been buckled up.

In addition to the seat belt citations issued in the last week, officers also cited 17 for speeding, apprehended two wanted individuals, and cited another 77 for other traffic violations.

Eight county and municipal police agencies, primarily located in Sussex and New Castle Counties, are conducting either traffic safety patrols and/or checkpoints looking for unbuckled drivers and passengers. Enforcement is occurring both day and night and will continue through the end of November, including the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Officers will be issuing citations for seat belt violations as part of a zero tolerance policy. The ticket, which goes to the driver no matter who is unbuckled in the vehicle, is a $25 fine plus court administrative fees, which can eventually total more than $70.

For weekly updates on OHS’s seat belt mobilization results please visit www.ohs.delaware.gov.