Montana to step up seat belt enforcement
HELENA, Mt. — Canadian Prairie truckers heading south to Montana may soon face tougher seat belt enforcement as the state Senate gave preliminary approval to a bill that would allow officers to pull over a vehicle if its occupants aren’t properly using seat belts.
Current state law allows police to write tickets for not buckling up or child restraints only after stopping the driver for another infraction.
The bill by Sen. Mike Cooney, D-Helena, was endorsed by the Senate 31-19. It would make not wearing a seat belt a primary offense, according to the Associated Press.
The Department of Transportation has estimated that the measure would save 20 lives a year in Montana.
Montana is one of 25 states without a provision giving police power to stop vehicles solely for a seat belt infraction.
— With files from Associated Press
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