Seat-belt measure gets OK from House committee

By one vote, a primary-seat-belt bill made it out of the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee on Friday.

SB36 would allow police officers to stop adult motorists for not wearing safety belts. Right now, police can only ticket drivers over 19 years or older for not buckling up if they are first pulled over for a different offense.

Sponsoring Sen. Pat Jones, D-Holladay, told the committee she has heard from some of the bill's opponents. "Some people call me names, saying I'm taking away their personal rights," she said.

"It (the argument) would be valid if it only affected the individual," she said.

But Jones said that medical costs and lost lives traced to accidents where seat belts aren't used impact the entire state.

Karen Cooley, who lost her son due to injuries he suffered in a car accident where he was not wearing a seat belt, plead with the committee to OK the bill.

SB36 was named in honor of Cooley's son, Nick Clay. He was misidentified during Senate proceedings as Nick Good.

Bryan Mortsensen, an 18-year-old student at Viewmont High School, told the committee that his peers don't worry about being cited for not buckling up.

"The secondary law, among my friends, has kind of become a joke," Mortsenson said.

The vote to pass the bill on to the House was 5-4. The Senate has already OK'd SB36.