7/24/03-A proposal to permit police to pull over drivers who are not buckled up is dead for the year.
H3128, which passed the House this spring, was never taken up by the full Senate before lawmakers adjourned in June.
The bill would have created a primary law for seat belt enforcement. Under current law, police cannot ticket drivers for seat belt violations unless the driver is pulled over for another traffic violation.
It forbade police to search vehicle occupants solely for a seat belt infraction.
The bill's sponsor, Rep. Joel Lourie, D-Columbia, sought passage of the bill to put South Carolina in line for additional federal money.
The Bush administration recently proposed an incentive program to encourage states to increase seat-belt enforcement. The program would provide grants worth $100 million a year for highway safety or construction programs to states that pass a primary seat-belt law or show a seat-belt-usage rate of at least 90 percent.
South Carolina is one of about 30 states without a primary seat-belt law. The state's usage rate is 73 percent.

5/28/03-A Senate panel voted in favor of a bill that would permit police to pull over drivers who are not buckled up.
The Senate Transportation Committee approved the bill on a 7-6 vote May 21. It has been forwarded to the full Senate.
H3128 would create a primary law for seat belt enforcement. Under current law, police cannot ticket drivers for seat belt violations unless the driver is pulled over for another traffic violation.
However, the measure forbids police to search vehicle occupants solely for a seat belt infraction. “A vehicle, driver, or occupant in a vehicle may not be searched solely because of a violation of this article,” the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Joel Lourie, D-Columbia, wrote.
For bill status, call (803) 734-2010.

5/2/03-A Senate panel is reviewing legislation that would permit police to pull over drivers who are not buckled up.
H3128 would create a primary law for seat belt enforcement. Under current law, police cannot ticket drivers for seat belt violations unless the driver is pulled over for another traffic violation.
The bill, which passed the House by a 54-46 vote last month, is in the Senate judiciary committee. For bill status, call (803) 734-2010.

3/6/03-The South Carolina House Education and Public Works Committee approved legislation this week to permit police to pull over drivers not buckled up.
H3128, sponsored by Rep. Joel Lourie, D-Richland County, would create a primary law for seat belt enforcement.
Under current law, police cannot ticket drivers for seat belt violations unless the driver is pulled over for another traffic violation.
The measure forbids police to search vehicle occupants solely for a seat belt infraction. "A vehicle, driver, or occupant in a vehicle may not be searched solely because of a violation of this article," Lourie wrote.
It now heads to the House floor for further debate. A similar bill (HB3100) remains in the House Education and Public Works Committee.
For bill status, call (803) 734-2010.