Spring Break
Buckle up or get pulled over
James Holt
Issue date: 2/28/07 Section: News
The Colorado Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would make driving without a seat belt a primary offense.
Bill sponsor Rep. Joe Rice, D-Littleton, is scheduled to introduce Senate Bill 151 to the House next week.
The purpose of the bill is to increase usage of restraining devices in vehicles to save lives in automobile accidents.
"It will save lives and save money," said Sen. Peter Groff, D-Adams, on Monday.
According to Groff, similar bills have saved "hundreds if not thousands of lives" in other states.
California, Hawaii and Texas are among the 25 states that already have primary offense seat belt statutes.
"Seat belts save lives. That's pretty much a documented fact," said Sen. Suzanne Williams, D-Aurora, citing the success of the "Click It or Ticket" campaign.
The movement is an effort spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Transportation to raise awareness of seat belt safety.
Sponsors said the bill would save an estimated $72.5 million in Medicaid tax dollars over the next 10 years. It would also secure approximately $14 million in federal highway funds for Colorado that are granted to states that adopt primary offense safety belt legislation.
Currently, driving without a seat belt is only a secondary offense. If a law enforcement officer pulls a driver over for a different violation and subsequently notices the driver is neglecting to use a safety belt, the officer can add safety belt negligence to the ticket. Police are not allowed to pull drivers over for only neglecting safety belt use.
By making it a primary offense, officers will be able to pull drivers over with safety belt negligence as the driver's only infraction, punishable as a Class-B infraction.
SB151 specifies that law enforcers must be able to clearly observe the restraining device violation and be able to articulate that the restraining device was unfastened.
Not only drivers would be required to wear safety belts, but also certain children and all front seat passengers. In addition, the bill modifies the age, height and weight requirements for certain children who are otherwise required to be fastened in a child restraint system.
Bill sponsor Rep. Joe Rice, D-Littleton, is scheduled to introduce Senate Bill 151 to the House next week.
The purpose of the bill is to increase usage of restraining devices in vehicles to save lives in automobile accidents.
"It will save lives and save money," said Sen. Peter Groff, D-Adams, on Monday.
According to Groff, similar bills have saved "hundreds if not thousands of lives" in other states.
California, Hawaii and Texas are among the 25 states that already have primary offense seat belt statutes.
"Seat belts save lives. That's pretty much a documented fact," said Sen. Suzanne Williams, D-Aurora, citing the success of the "Click It or Ticket" campaign.
The movement is an effort spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Transportation to raise awareness of seat belt safety.
Sponsors said the bill would save an estimated $72.5 million in Medicaid tax dollars over the next 10 years. It would also secure approximately $14 million in federal highway funds for Colorado that are granted to states that adopt primary offense safety belt legislation.
Currently, driving without a seat belt is only a secondary offense. If a law enforcement officer pulls a driver over for a different violation and subsequently notices the driver is neglecting to use a safety belt, the officer can add safety belt negligence to the ticket. Police are not allowed to pull drivers over for only neglecting safety belt use.
By making it a primary offense, officers will be able to pull drivers over with safety belt negligence as the driver's only infraction, punishable as a Class-B infraction.
SB151 specifies that law enforcers must be able to clearly observe the restraining device violation and be able to articulate that the restraining device was unfastened.
Not only drivers would be required to wear safety belts, but also certain children and all front seat passengers. In addition, the bill modifies the age, height and weight requirements for certain children who are otherwise required to be fastened in a child restraint system.
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Danio
posted 3/01/07 @ 7:08 AM MST
We don't need more Government intervention with personal issues. Hopefully this bill is defeated.
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