2/25/04-The House Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committee voted 10-3 not to pass a bill that would permit police to pull over drivers who are not buckled up, effectively killing the measure.
SB71, sponsored by Sen. Karen Hale, D-Midvale, would have created a primary law for seat-belt enforcement. Currently, police can ticket drivers and passengers older than age 19 for seat-belt violations only after stopping a vehicle for another traffic violation.
However, such violations are a primary offense for anyone 19 and younger who is not belted.

1/30/04-A proposal that would permit police to pull over drivers who are not buckled up has advanced to the Senate floor.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Karen Hale, D-Midvale, would create a primary law for seat-belt enforcement. Currently, police can ticket drivers and passengers older than age 19 for seat-belt violations only after stopping a vehicle for another traffic violation.
However, such violations are a primary offense for anyone 19 and younger who is not belted.
If signed into law, SB71 would put Utah 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.
Failure to do one or the other would result in a loss of up to 4 percent of federal highway funds to the state.
For Senate bill status, call (801) 538-1035.

1/22/04-A proposal in the Senate would permit police to pull over drivers who are not buckled up.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Karen Hale, D-Midvale, would create a primary law for seat-belt enforcement. Currently, police can ticket drivers and passengers older than age 19 for seat-belt violations only after stopping a vehicle for another traffic violation.
However, such violations are a primary offense for anyone 19 and younger who is not belted.
If signed into law, it would put Utah 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.
Failure to do one or the other would result in a loss of up to 4 percent of federal highway funds to the state.
SB71 has been forwarded to the Senate Transportation and Public Utilities and Technology Committee. For Senate bill status, call (801) 538-1035.

12/22/03-A lawmaker has drafted legislation that would permit police to pull over drivers in the state who are not buckled up.
The bill sponsored by Sen. Karen Hale, D-Salt Lake City, would create a primary law for seat-belt enforcement. Currently, police can ticket drivers only after stopping a vehicle for another traffic violation.
If signed into law, SB71 would put the state in line for additional federal money.
An incentive program recently introduced in Congress encourages states to increase seat-belt enforcement. The program would give states three years to enact a primary seat-belt law or reach a rate of usage of at least 90 percent. Failure to do one or the other would result in a loss of up to 4 percent of federal highway funds to the state.
Utah is one of about 30 states without a primary seat-belt law.
Lawmakers will reconvene at the Capitol Jan. 19. For Senate bill status, call (801) 538-1035.