House Finance Committee narrowly approves seat belt bill
NASHVILLE (AP) — Despite concerns about enabling racial profiling by police officers, the House Finance Committee narrowly approved a bill Tuesday allowing motorists to be stopped if they aren’t wearing seat belts.
Currently, an adult motorist can be cited for failing to wear a seat belt only if stopped for another traffic violation.
Under the bill, a first offense would cost $10, with subsequent offenses resulting in $20 fines.
Rep. Larry Miller, D-Memphis, was among several lawmakers saying they were afraid such a law could increase profiling, where officers stop a vehicle because they don’t like how it or the driver looks. Officers could then allege the driver wasn’t wearing a seat belt, lawmakers said.
Rep. Rob Briley, D-Nashville, agreed that lawmakers should address profiling concerns but said there are plenty of bills filed and laws already on the books that give officers the potential for “flagrant abuse.”
The seat belt bill is a public safety and cost-saving measure that needs to be passed, Briley said.
It is expected to save an estimated 81 lives annually, data shows.
Rep. Tim Garrett, D-Goodlettsville, said he’s afraid that if the bill becomes law, it will clutter up court dockets, almost certainly resulting in increased fines and court costs for motorists.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. John Hood, D-Murfreesboro, said any driver 17 or younger who isn’t buckled up already can be stopped, and there’s “not been any rash of stops.”
The bill, which would apply to drivers and front-seat passengers, was approved 15-10, sending it to the House floor for a vote. The companion bill is scheduled for debate Wednesday in the Senate Finance Committee.
The National Transportation Safety Board has said that more than 70 percent of people killed in traffic crashes between 1994 and 2002 were not wearing seat belts.
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On the Net:
Read SB2606/HB3104 at: www.legislature.state.tn.us