Police monitor safety belt use
Westminster police said 35 percent of the motorists in the city did not wear safety belts during an observation day at four intersections last month. More than 2,400 vehicles were checked, they said.
Police said 75 percent of female drivers wore seat belts while 57 percent of male drivers wore the safety restraints. Forty-three percent of all truck drivers (pickup trucks or larger) wore the belts.
Officers said 100 percent of the motorcycles riders were obeying the law and wore helmets during the safety check.
Statistics are based on observation of drivers only where vehicles are equipped with a shoulder harness belt, which an officer could observe while standing at an intersection.
During the same month, officers arrested three drivers for driving while intoxicated and issued 72 citations for exceeding speed limits by 10 mph or more.
Officers said 101 citations were issued for safety belt noncompliance during the month. Ninety-eight citations were issued for adult violations and three for children not in child safety seats.
FIRE
* Westminster: Westminster and Reese responded to a truck fire on Route 140 at 140 Village Shopping Center at 11:20 p.m. Thursday. Units were out for 40 minutes.