PennDOT and Philadelphia area police departments are teaming up to enforce seat belt use.

Even though Pennsylvania has nearly an 87 percent seat belt use rate, PennDOT said Monday police in the region and across the state are working to get more motorists to wear their seat belts in their travels.

Police departments in Chester, Delaware, Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties are set to receive $179,000 grants to conduct seat belt patrols between today and March 30, according to a release issued by PennDOT.

Under state law, all front-seat passengers are required to wear their seat belts. If found without a belt, a driver or passenger could face a $60 fine and related fees.

PennDOT said in 2006 over 600 people were killed on state highways because they did properly wear a seat belt.

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