In an eight-day project running from Monday, November 21 through Monday, November 28, police will heighten their enforcement of state seat belt laws as part of the nationwide "Click-It or Ticket" program. www.nhtsa.gov.

"With the Thanksgiving weekend quickly approaching, Newtown law enforcement personnel, in an effort to promote safe driving and increase the protection of all motorists, will be actively looking for those motorists who choose not to wear their seat belts, and will be issuing citations to those who are found unbuckled," said police Sergeant Aaron Bahamonde.

Seat belts save lives, but they can only save lives if they are used, according to police.

Under Connecticut law, all drivers and all front-seat passengers must wear seat belts. Also, all children under age 16, wherever they sit in an auto, must wear seat belts. Fines start at a minimum of $92 for a first offense.

For information about safe travel during the Thanksgiving holiday period, visit: