Seat-belt law proponent biding time

Sen. Karen Hale, D-Salt Lake, has sponsored a primary seat-belt bill for the past two sessions of the Utah Legislature.

Her bill failed both times, although it did make it out of the Senate last year. But she is optimistic Utah's law enforcement officers will be able to ticket motorists solely for not wearing their seat belts in the near future.

However, that is unlikely to become a law during the 2005 session. Hale has decided not to run the measure this session and will instead work behind the scenes to build consensus for another attempt in 2006.

"I think we need to build a base (of support) in the House" before re-introducing the bill, which died last session in a House committee, Hale said.

"I am as strong in my support of the bill as I was last year and the year before. I think this is something that is important and I will continue to work on it."

Part of the reason Hale has pulled back is because of persistent comments from some lawmakers (who have opposed her bill in the past) that they would favor of a bill making it a primary offense not to wear seat belts on roads with speed limits of 55 mph or higher.

That would allow state troopers to ticket motorists for not wearing seat belts on the state's interstates and highways. And while that might sound like progress, something that could be built upon, that kind of a law just doesn't go far enough to satisfy Hale and others who support a full primary seat belt law.

Sen. Bill Hickman, R-St. George, could not be reached for comment Thursday. He is one of several lawmakers linked to a possible bill that would make seat belt non-use a primary offense on 55 mph roadways. A check of current bill files shows no such legislation currently in the works under Hickman's name, nor under the names of other potential sponsors, including Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, and Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan.

If such a bill does surface during this session, Hale said she will attempt to amend it, making it a full primary seat belt law that applies to all Utah roads.

Col. Scott Duncan, superintendent of the Utah Highway Patrol, said his best guess is that no primary seat belt legislation will emerge this year. But if the 55 mph bill does come up, Duncan said he would support it.

"We support anything that would help get people to wear their seat belts, that hopefully goes without saying," Duncan said. "We're absolutely convinced seat belts save lives."

Duncan said he would prefer a full primary seat belt law, but said he is unsure anyone will ever be able to "guarantee to a legislator who believes in personal choice . . . that by having a primary law, you can increase the usage rate enough to make them feel comfortable enough to run with that kind of policy in this state."

Hale said it is important to note Utah law does already require the use of seat belts, and the only issue now is whether officers can enforce that law as a primary or — as is now the case — secondary offense.

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E-mail: zman@desnews.com