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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Failing to use a seat belt would be a primary offense in Utah under a bill endorsed by a Senate committee Friday.
Currently, failing to buckle-up is a primary offense for drivers age 19 or younger. Under the bill from Sen. Karen Hale, D-Salt Lake City, all drivers could be stopped for failing to wear a safety belt.
Statistics from the Utah Highway Patrol showed that in states that have passed primary use laws, usage rates go up and traffic fatalities decrease. About 87 percent of Utahn residents already use seat belts, UHP statistics show.
Sen. Carlene Walker, R-Salt Lake City, said her husband opposes the idea, but said she'd vote for it anyway.
"I can be very selfish in voting this, wanting him to buckle up, even though it may jeopardize my marriage," she joked. "I think this is the right thing to do."
The Senate Transportation Committee endorsed the bill on a 4-2 vote and it now moves to the full Senate.
Among the dissenters was Sen. Curtis Bramble, R-Provo, who tried to substitute Hale's bill earlier this week with a proposal that would tie seat belt use to insurance coverage after an accident. On Friday, he withdrew his proposal.
An identical version of Hale's bill passed the Senate in 2005, but failed in the House.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
