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2/18/05-The House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee, voted 13-4 on Feb. 18 to kill a bill that would have permitted police to pull over drivers who are not buckled up.
SB901, sponsored by Sen. Thomas Norment Jr., R-James City, would have required all occupants of the vehicle, not just the driver and front-seat passenger, to wear seat belts.
Currently, police in Virginia can issue seat-belt citations to drivers only after stopping a vehicle for another traffic violation.
The bill also would have prohibited officers from searching or inspecting a motor vehicle or the occupants solely for violating the seat-belt provision.
SB901, sponsored by Sen. Thomas Norment Jr., R-James City, would have required all occupants of the vehicle, not just the driver and front-seat passenger, to wear seat belts.
Currently, police in Virginia can issue seat-belt citations to drivers only after stopping a vehicle for another traffic violation.
The bill also would have prohibited officers from searching or inspecting a motor vehicle or the occupants solely for violating the seat-belt provision.