A bill in South Carolina to permit police to pull over drivers who are not wearing their seat belts became law after Gov. Mark Sanford did not veto it by midnight June 8.

The governor allowed the bill to become law without his endorsement, his response to a measure that he said is not strict enough and will not be effective, WIST TV in Columbia, SC, reported.

The new law takes effect in December. Until then, offenders will receive a warning only. Violations carry a $25 fine.

Under the old law, police could issue seat-belt citations to drivers older than age 17 only after stopping a vehicle for another traffic violation. However, such violations have been a primary offense for anyone 17 and younger who is not belted.

The new law, previously S1, allows police to pull over all drivers for not buckling up.

The new version, however, has limitations. Police cannot issue seat-belt tickets at traffic checkpoints or roadblocks and violations cannot be reported to insurance companies. It also forbids police from searching a vehicle or its occupants if a vehicle is pulled over solely for a seat-belt violation.

Sanford is disappointed the offenses cannot be reported to insurance companies, The Times and Democrat in Orangeburg, SC, reported. He also wanted a bill that allowed a conviction for failing to buckle up to be factor in injury lawsuits as well as causing repeat offenders to pay more for auto insurance.

However, in a letter to the Senate Thursday, June 9, Sanford said, “based on the overwhelming level of support from the General Assembly, I will not impede what appears to be the citizenry’s will.”

In addition, the effort could mean more money for South Carolina roads and bridges. A proposal before Congress would give any state that adopts tougher seat-belt rules one-time grant money equal to 500 percent of the highway funding they received in 2003, The Associated Press reported.