AUGUSTA — Maine State Police have increased enforcement of Maine’s seat-belt laws, said Col. Andrew E. Demers, chief of the state police. Troopers will begin distributing handouts during Memorial Day weekend and continue through Labor Day, Demers said.

Maine law requires all occupants of motor vehicles under the age of 19 to use a seat belt or child safety seat. Children under 4 must be in a federally approved child safety seat. Older children may use seats or seat belts. Adults are not required to use seat belts, but state police urge them to do so, Demers said, and troopers are required to use belts.

Of 159 people killed in passenger vehicles in 1991, only 22 percent were using seat belts.

Fines for violations range from $25 for a first offense to $200 for a second violation.