House Judiciary: Buckle up

Police officers will have the authority to pull motorists over for not wearing seat belts, under a bill that cleared the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday.

The bill makes failing to wear a seat belt a primary offense, meaning police can initiate a traffic stop on motorists who are not buckled up.  Under current law, not wearing a seat belt is a secondary offense.

House Bill 2108 squeaked through the committee on a 13-11 vote and will now head to the House floor.

Bob Tipton, the director of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program, spoke with lawmakers about the bill.  He said West Virginia has a seat belt usage rate of about 84 percent, much lower than states where seat belt violations are primary offenses.

Delegate Barbara Fleischauer, D-Monongalia, the sponsor of the bill, said Maryland motorists buckle up at a rate of 94 percent.  Maryland and 33 other states allow police to pull over motorists who are not wearing seat belts.

“In West Virginia, 15.1 percent of our citizens are not buckling up.  That is over 279,000 people,” Fleischauer said.  “Let’s do the right thing and try to save some lives here.”

Tipton urged lawmakers to pass the bill.  He said 339 people died in traffic accidents in 2012.  Of that amount, about 100 were a result of not wearing a seat belt, Tipton reported.  He estimated the bill would boost seat belt usage by about 7 percent, which would result in saving at least 14 lives.

“This equates to less people being killed or injured,” Tipton said.  “We have one of the highest un-belted fatality rates in the country.  If those people stay in the car, they are more likely to survive and be less seriously injured.”

Under the bill, police could fine motorists up to $25.  A violation would not add any points on a driver’s license.