The West Virginia House of Delegates approved a bill Feb. 18 to stiffen the state’s drunken driving standard and permit police to pull over drivers for failing to wear a seat belt.

HB2203, sponsored by Delegate Jody Smirl, R-Cabell County, is a blending of two safety initiatives – seat-belt usage and Gov. Bob Wise’s call to reduce the state’s blood alcohol standards for DUIs from 0.10 to 0.08.

Under current law, officers can issue seat-belt citations only if they stop drivers for another traffic violation.

With new authority, police can pull over drivers if they see anyone in the front seat or anyone under age 16 in the back seat not wearing seat belts. The fine would be $25, the same as current law.

The blood alcohol section would bring West Virginia in line with federal requirements and keep the state from losing $4 million in federal highway funds, the Bluefield Daily Telegraph reported.

A 2000 federal law requires each state’s legislature to adopt the 0.08 limit by 2004 or lose 2 percent of its highway money.

Smirl told Land Line figures suggested the bill would save 50 lives, prevent 4,000 injuries and deter $245 million in medical and legal costs each year.

The bill now goes to the Senate.

--by Keith Goble, staff writer