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State Representative Kim Norton
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-9249
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
Press/News Releases
HOUSE PASSES PRIMARY SEAT BELT BILL
ST. PAUL, MN - On the last day of the 2009 Legislative Session, the Minnesota House of Representatives took up and passed a measure making it a primary offense not to wear a seat belt while driving. Currently, it is a secondary offense not to wear a seat belt in Minnesota. While the bill has flown through the Senate for many years, the House has been unable to bring the bill through the committee process and to the house floor. The bill (HF108), authored by Rep. Kim Norton (DFL - Rochester), passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 73-60.
“The bill we passed today will save lives," said Rep. Norton. “By passing this important legislation we can provide additional incentive to help ensure Minnesotans buckle up when they get behind the wheel. In too many cases, the choice to not buckle up is a matter of life or death.”
While it is currently the law in Minnesota that you wear a seat belt, law enforcement has not been able to pull someone over to enforce that law. HF108 requires that all passengers in the car wear a seat belt. Anyone over the age of 15 who violates the law would face a $25 fine. Drivers would be liable for their own violations and also for any violations by passengers under the age of 15.
“If a person gets in an accident and survives, their injuries are compounded significantly if they didn’t buckle up; when that happens we’re all paying for it - in Medicaid charges and taxes,” said Norton. “By enforcing seat belt laws as a primary offense we not only help prevent many of those injuries and those costs, we make Minnesota eligible for millions of dollars in federal funding. In a time of serious budget shortfall, those savings have never been more welcome.”
Minnesota has already received $15.3 million from a federal incentive program that is based on our 85% level of seat belt use over two years (2007-08). An additional $3.4 million in federal funds will be available in FY 10, but only if a primary seat belt law is on the books by June of this year. Minnesota already lost $500,000 in incentive funds because the state failed to pass a primary seat belt law before February 15, 2009.
“This is common sense, thoughtful public policy,” Rep. Norton said. “And it’s in the best interest of every person in this state. It takes just a second to buckle up. And, it takes just a second to get in an accident. The more we can do to encourage people to follow the law and wear their seat belts, the better.”
Coincidentally, police officers throughout the Midwest today began a “Click It or Ticket” effort today designed to raise awareness around the impact of not wearing a seat belt.
Norton’s bill is up for a vote in the Senate today. It is expected to pass and be signed into law.
News Items
- Rep. Norton Selected as Vice Chair of House Health and Human Services Finance Committee - (Posted: 2012-12-14 00:00:00)
- It’s Time for Legislature to Get Back to Basics, Balance the Budget Honestly - (Posted: 2012-12-11 00:00:00)
- Second Saturday Coffee Meeting Date Changed to December 9 - (Posted: 2012-12-03 00:00:00)
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