Click it: Ticket quota?

Is the "Click It or Ticket" program we are seeing around Southern California a smart safety campaign or an unfair ticket quota system? Times' Your Wheels columnist Ralph Vartabedian raises that question, and finds some concerns about the program:

But is a program by the federal government to exert pressure on state and local police to issue tickets — accompanied by what amounts to ticket quotas — the right approach, particularly at a time when police are not able to fully control speeding, drunk driving and aggressive driving?  There are compelling reasons to increase seat belt usage, particularly among young drivers and particularly among men. Many experts believe the best way to do that is through education and advertising.