Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Police could pull over motorists and issue warnings for not wearing seat belts under a bill the Utah Legislature has approved.
HB79 does not allow law enforcement to issue citations on the first offense until July 2018. Police, however, could cite drivers who were previously warned. The Senate passed the bill Tuesday.
Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, said the law allows police to mount a public education campaign to help reduce highway deaths.
Under Utah law, not wearing a seat belt is a primary offense for drivers and passengers under age 19, but a secondary offense for other adults. Officers had to first stop drivers for another reason before ticketing them for not wearing their seat belts.
The House approved the bill last month. It now goes to the governor for consideration.
