A Nebraska lawmaker has sponsored legislation that would permit police to pull over drivers who are not buckled up.

The bill, introduced by Sen. Dennis Byars, R-Beatrice, would create a primary law for seat-belt enforcement. Currently, police can ticket drivers for seat-belt violations only after stopping a vehicle for another traffic violation.

LB866 has been forwarded to the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee.

If signed into law, it would put Nebraska in line for additional federal money.

An incentive program recently introduced in Congress encourages states to increase seat-belt enforcement. The program would give states three years to enact a primary seat-belt law or reach a rate of usage of at least 90 percent.

Failure to do one or the other would result in a loss of up to 4 percent of federal highway funds to the state.

Nebraska is one of about 30 states without a primary seat-belt law.