Senate rejects seat-belt bill on final vote

HELENA – A bill that would allow police to pull drivers over for not wearing seat belts failed on its final vote Thursday after several state senators changed their minds from the day before.

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 have made the failure to wear a seat belt a primary offense. Senators voted 25-25 for the bill after a lengthy debate the previous day. The voting crossed party lines.

Supporters said the bill would cause more people to use their seatbelts, but opponents said the bill would impinge on Montanans’ liberties by giving police an excuse to pull drivers over whenever they feel like it.