An effort in Utah to permit police to pull over drivers who are not buckled up has been defeated once again. Another safety-related effort in the Legislature remains active.
The House voted 39-33 to kill a Senate-approved bill that would have created a primary law for seat-belt enforcement. Currently, law enforcement officers can ticket drivers and passengers age 19 or older for seat-belt violations only after stopping vehicles for another traffic violation. However, such violations are a primary offense for anyone under the age of 19, meaning young drivers can be pulled over solely for not wearing a seat belt.
This was the fifth attempt in as many years at the stricter rule.
In hopes of getting the effort through the statehouse this year, Sen. Pat Jones, D-Holladay, added a sunset provision to primary enforcement that would cause the law to expire in July 2010. At that time, transportation safety officials would re-evaluate its impact.
Opponents said the bill - SB36 - represented "heavy-handed government."
Another bill before lawmakers focuses on teens driving distracted.
The House approved a bill that would make it a secondary offense for novice drivers to talk on hand-held cell phones or text message while behind the wheel.
Sponsored by Rep. Kory Holdaway, R-Taylorsville, the bill would allow talking on phones equipped with a "hands-free" accessory. Emergency calls or calls made as part of job duties would be exempted.
Holdaway's bill - HB217 - now heads to the Senate.
One other bill focusing on young drivers in the state, however, was met with resistance.
A measure offered by Rep. Craig Frank, R-Pleasant Grove, sought to repeal nighttime driving restrictions for young drivers. State law now forbids new drivers from being on the road between midnight and 5 a.m. until age 17. They also are prohibited from transporting other teens unless a licensed adult is in the passenger seat of their vehicle.
House Transportation Committee denied a motion to favorably approve the bill - HB82. The issue, however, may not be over. Rules of the statehouse allow it to be brought back for consideration since the committee didn't formally kill it.
