A bill to toughen enforcement of Virginia’s seat-belt bill has been withdrawn from consideration until next year.

State Sen. Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-James City, asked the House Transportation Committee to carry over the bill. He told local media he didn’t have enough votes to get the bill passed in the committee.

Norment said he would use the coming year to educate six new committee members about the life-saving benefits of the measure.

Under SB235, police would be permitted to pull over drivers who are not buckled up. Currently, police can ticket drivers only after stopping a vehicle for another traffic violation.

“This just seemed like a no-brainer piece of legislation,” Norment told WVEC TV.