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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Police would be able to pull over and ticket adult drivers for not wearing their seat belts under a bill approved by the Senate today.
This is the fifth year in a row a bill has been introduced that would make failure to wear a seatbelt a primary offense for drivers 19 or older. Police can already issue a ticket for failure to wear a seatbelt, but they have to pull the driver over for another infraction first.
Similar bills have passed in the Senate before, but always failed in the House.
This year's sponsor, Senator Patricia Jones, is hoping she'll be able to overcome the hurdle in the House by including a provision that would make the bill expire in three years.
Reluctant House members have said they don't think the government should tell drivers what they should be doing inside their cars and that there's no evidence primary seat belt laws are effective.
---- On the Net: Senate Bill 36 http://le.utah.gov/ 7/82007/htmdoc/sbillhtm/SB0036.htm
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
