7/18/03-A bill that would permit police officers to pull over drivers for failure to wear a seat belt is now law.
HB43, sponsored by Rep. William A. Oberle, makes failure to wear a seat belt a primary offense. Gov. Ruth Ann Minner signed the bill into law June 30.
Under previous law, police could issue seat-belt citations only if they stopped drivers for another traffic violation. With new authority, police can pull over drivers if they see anyone in the vehicle not buckled up.
The new law took effect July 15.

6/27/03-A bill that would permit police officers to pull over drivers for failure to wear a seat belt has now passed both houses of the General Assembly and is headed to Gov. Ruth Ann Miner, who is expected to sign it.
HB43 would make failure to wear a seat belt a primary offense. Under current law, police can issue seat-belt citations only if they stop drivers for another traffic violation. With new authority, police can pull over drivers if they see anyone in the vehicle not buckled up.
The original bill would have set a fine of $25, but the Senate amended the bill to replace the fine with an administrative sanction, which would not show up on a person’s driving record.
For bill status, call (302) 739-4114.

6/20/03-A bill that would permit police officers to pull over drivers for failure to wear a seat belt is headed toward a vote on the Senate floor.
HB43 would make failure to wear a seat belt a primary offense. Under current law, police can issue seat-belt citations only if they stop drivers for another traffic violation. With new authority, police can pull over drivers if they see anyone in the vehicle not buckled up. The fine would be $28.75.
The House approved the bill May 6, and the Senate Public Safety Committee voted that the bill had merit – neither voting for or against it – June 11. The Senate has until June 30, the end of the session, to make a decision on the bill.
For bill status, call (302) 739-4114.

4/8/03-A bill that would permit police officers to pull over drivers for failure to wear a seat belt is headed for a vote before the full House.
HB43, sponsored by Rep. William A. Oberle, makes failure to wear a seat belt a primary offense. Under current law, police can issue seat-belt citations only if they stop drivers for another traffic violation. With new authority, police can pull over drivers if they see anyone in the vehicle not buckled up. The fine would be $28.75.
For bill status, call (302) 739-4114.

3/31/03-A bill that would permit police officers to pull over drivers for failure to wear a seat belt received an endorsement “on its merits” from the House Public Safety Committee March 20.
Rep. William A. Oberle sponsored HB43, which makes failure to wear a seat belt a primary offense. Under current law, police can issue seat-belt citations only if they stop drivers for another traffic violation. With new authority, police can pull over drivers if they see anyone in the vehicle not buckled up. The fine would be $28.75.
For bill status, call (302) 739-4114.

3/10/03-Rep. William A. Oberle sponsored legislation that would permit police officers to pull over drivers for failure to wear a seat belt.
Under current law, police can issue seat-belt citations only if they stop drivers for another traffic violation.
With new authority, police can pull over drivers if they see anyone in the vehicle not buckled up. Under HB43, the fine would be $28.75.
Oberle, R-Beecher's Lot, is hopeful the bill, if signed into law, would curb injuries in the state resulting from failure to wear a seat belt. "Recently, Delaware has experienced an increase in motor vehicle fatalities. In many cases, the persons killed were not wearing seat belts," he wrote. "Other states that have enacted primary seat belt laws have seen a corresponding increase in seat belt compliance."
The bill is in the House Public Safety Committee. For bill status, call (302) 739-4114.