NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A proposal that would
increase the fine for not wearing a seat belt by $40 has advanced in the
Senate.
The measure sponsored by
Republican Senator Bill Ketron of Murfreesboro narrowly passed the Senate
Transportation Committee 5-4 on Wednesday.
Currently the penalty for not
wearing a seat belt is $10. Under this proposal, the fine would be $50. A
second offense would cost $75.
Ketron said the measure is
simply to encourage people to buckle up.
The
companion bill was to be heard in the House Transportation Subcommittee later
in the day.
Republican sponsor
Representative Tony Shipley from Kingsport said there were 65,000 seatbelt
violations in 2012. Officials also attributed 400 deaths to not wearing
seatbelts last year.
"It is proven in studies
across the United States that increasing the fine effects people's judgment on
whether or not to wear a seatbelt," he said.
Shipley said he wanted to
earmark the extra money generated by the extra fines to child advocacy groups
who represent abused children in the courtroom.
(NewsChannel5 and The
Associated Press.)
