Automotive experts at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that in 2007, 54 percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed in traffic accidents were not wearing seat belts. Now cash-strapped states want to give law enforcement officers the authority to pull over motorists just for not wearing their seat belts. More than a dozen states that are considering making the switch to primary seat-belt enforcement laws need to do so before July to be eligible for millions in federal money.
One of those states is Ohio, which would get $26.8 million if it
changes its law. Currently, officers in the state must first have some
other reason to stop drivers over before issuing seat-belt citations. Congress adopted the federal incentive program in the 2005 federal
transportation bill as a way to encourage states to adopt the primary
enforcement law. The goal was to save lives, reduce insurance costs,
and cut medical bills.
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