5/30/03-An amendment to ensure drivers cannot be arrested for failure to buckle up was dropped from a Senate bill.
Rep. Thad Balkman, R-Norman, previously attached an amendment to a criminal procedure bill to include protecting drivers from being arrested for not wearing a seat belt.
The amended version included a provision that any driver stopped in Oklahoma for a traffic violation – such as failure to wear a seat belt – “shall be released at the scene.”
SB391 passed the House as amended April 14 by a 99-1 vote. However, the Senate later rejected the revision.
Balkman said the Senate rejected the amendment because of questions about how it would be interpreted by police.
“ They were fearful it would mandate that police ticket seat-belt offenders, so they rejected it,” he said.
The bill’s original version passed the Legislature and has been sent to the governor.

5/13/03-A Senate bill amended to ensure drivers cannot be arrested for failure to buckle up is headed to a conference committee.
Rep. Thad Balkman, R-Norman, attached an amendment to a criminal procedure bill to include protecting drivers from being arrested for not wearing a seat belt.
The amended version included a provision that any driver stopped in Oklahoma for a traffic violation – such as failure to wear a seat belt – “shall be released at the scene.”
SB391 passed the House as amended April 14 by a 99-1 vote. However, the Senate later rejected the amended version.
Balkman said the Senate rejected the amendment because of questions about how it would be interpreted by police.
“ They were fearful it would mandate that police ticket seat-belt offenders, so they rejected it,” he said.
Balkman said a House-Senate conference committee would convene shortly to work out the language of the bill. The regular session is scheduled to conclude May 23, but Balkman said the session could be extended to the end of the month.
For bill status, call (405) 521-2733.

4/21/03-An Oklahoma lawmaker has amended legislation intended to ensure drivers cannot be arrested for failure to wear seat belts.
Rep. Thad Balkman, R-Norman, attached an amendment earlier this month to SB391. The amendment provides that any driver stopped in Oklahoma for a traffic violation – such as failure to wear a seat belt – “shall be released at the scene.”
Balkman said in a released statement anyone found to be driving without a valid driver’s license or driving while intoxicated would be exempt from the protection.
The amended version of the bill raced through the House by a 99-1 vote on April 14. It has been returned to the Senate for consideration of House amendments.
For bill status, call (405) 521-2733.