Tougher seat-belt bill narrowly survives early vote

HELENA – A bill that would allow police to pull drivers over for not wearing seat belts narrowly cleared its first hurdle today.

Current Montana law allows law enforcement to ticket drivers for not wearing seat belts but only after they have been pulled over for another offense. Senate Bill 237, sponsored by Sen. Dave Lewis, R-Helena, would make the failure to wear a seat belt a primary offense.

Senators voted 25-24 for the bill after a lengthy debate, and the voting crossed party lines. A final vote is scheduled for tomorrow.

Supporters said the bill would cause more people to use their seatbelts. “I know that if we pass this bill fewer people will be killed,” Lewis said.

But opponents said the bill would impinge on Montanans’ liberties by giving police an excuse to pull drivers over whenever they feel like it. “This opens the door to be pulled over for any reason, any time,” said Sen. Dan McGee, R-Laurel.

Opponents also said the bill would promote racial profiling by giving police an easy reason to pull over Native Americans. Sens. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, and Sharon Stewart-Peregoy, D-Crow Agency, opposed the bill for that reason.

-by CNS correspondent Molly Priddy