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Second House Vote on Seat-Belt Law Expected By Next Week

Posted on: Monday, 27 February 2006, 18:00 CST

By Steve Lannen, The Lexington Herald-Leader, Ky.

Feb. 27--GEORGETOWN -- The state House of Representatives could vote again soon on a bill that would allow police to ticket people simply for not wearing their seat belts.

Strategies are being discussed now, and the bill could be called later this week or next week in the House, said Rep. Charlie Hoffman, D-Georgetown. He also said there is more support now for the legislation, which failed to garner the needed votes to pass almost two weeks ago.

The number willing to vote for a primary seat-belt law is now in the "high 50s, close to 60," Hoffman said today during a rally for the legislation at the Georgetown/Scott County Emergency Medical Services headquarters.

A similar rally was scheduled in Pikeville today, with another in London on Tuesday. Others are scheduled next week to drum up support for the measure as the legislative session in Frankfort draws nearer to a close.

Before a Georgetown audience of about 25 state police, local government employees and two crash-test dummies, state transportation and local emergency officials repeatedly said a primary seat-belt law will save lives. More than 60 lives could be saved annually in the state, they said.

Currently, police can ticket an individual for not wearing a safety belt only if the person is pulled over for another violation such as speeding.

"I've probably heard every excuse why someone should not wear a seat belt," said Boyd Sigler, transportation cabinet highways safety operations manager. But, he said, he has also met many families who have lost loved ones in wrecks.

"Those excuses mean very little to them because they've lost someone very dear to them," he said.

Beyond the potential lives saved, passage of the bill will likely mean an extra $11.2 million in federal money.

To qualify for the money, tucked into last year's reauthorization of the Transportation Safety Act, a state must have 85 percent of its drivers wear seat belts for two consecutive years, or the state legislature must pass a primary safety belt law, said Melissa Savage, a policy analyst with the National Conference of State Legislatures in Denver.

Given that Kentucky's seat-belt usage rate is 67 percent -- 47th out of 50 states -- a state law is the most viable option.

During this legislative calendar, nine states have active bills regarding primary seat-belt laws, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Of those nine states, two -- Alaska and Mississippi -- have passed the bills into law this year. South Carolina (2005) and Tennessee (2004) also passed primary seat-belt laws recently.

"I haven't seen states move this fast in the past several years," said Savage. "Obviously, there's a carrot out there."

Money would be available for states that meet the qualifications between now and 2009, she said.

Transportation officials want the law passed to save lives; the one-time money that comes with its passage would be a bonus, said district spokesman David Thacker. When asked whether the $11.2 million had been included in next year's budget, he said it had not. "That would be putting the cart before the horse," he said.

On Feb. 16, House members voted 49-48 for the bill. However, an emergency clause attached to the bill to enact the law immediately upon the governor's signature upped the number of votes needed for passage to 51.

Hoffman said it was possible the emergency clause could be dropped from the legislation. Or, it's possible a similar bill could be used instead.

"Before this week is out, we'll have a definite plan to move forward with it," he said. "I think it's well on its way."

Reach Steve Lannen in the Herald-Leader's Georgetown bureau, (502) 867-1354 or e-mail slannen@herald-leader.com [mailto:slannen@herald-leader.com].

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Lexington Herald-Leader, Ky.

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Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (Lexington, Ky.)

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