Seat belt emphasis to start

Seat belt emphasis patrols will begin Thursday in Kootenai County, authorities say. Sheriff’s deputies will target various areas around the county, said Kootenai County Sheriff’s Sgt. Kevin Smart. “In 2007, 76 percent of those killed in single vehicle rollovers in Idaho were not buckled up,” Smart said in a press release. “More than 80 percent of those killed in DUI crashes were not buckled up, and 63 percent of those killed in speed-related crashes were not buckled.” The sheriff’s department’s goal is to educate people on the importance of using seat belts, authorities said. The emphasis ends Feb. 22.