By Ashley Speagle
Correspondent
ATLANTA -- After years of delay, a bill that would require pickup truck drivers to wear seat belts passed the Legislature on Tuesday and will go to the governor to sign into law.
"I am thankful we could all work together to ensure the passage of legislation that will prevent unnecessary deaths and injuries while saving money," said Sen. Don Thomas, R-Dalton, who sponsored the bill. Dr. Thomas, a physician, is leaving the Legislature at the end of his term to tend to his medical practice.
Senate Bill 458 will require pickup drivers to join the rest of the state's motorists in wearing seat belts. Pickups used on farms and other agricultural jobs are exempt.
Rep. Kevin Levitas, D-Atlanta, said the new law would do for free what Georgia's Highway Safety Improvement Program spends more than $100 million per year to do -- save lives on highways.
Sen. Thomas said the bill also could save taxpayers $25 million in Medicaid costs over 10 years from expenses related to pickup accidents.
Rep. Penny Houston, R-Nashville, said the bill protects every insured Georgian.
"If you don't have a seat belt on and have no insurance ... I have to pay your hospital bill," she said.
Others noted passing the law could bring back federal highway funds that had been denied for lack of such a statute.
By the numbers
* 30: States with primary seat belt laws, including Georgia, the only state in this group exempting pickup drivers
* 19: States with secondary seat belt laws
* 1: State with no seat belt laws for adults (New Hampshire)
Source: Governors Highway Safety Association
The vote was 132-29. Some opponents said the bill would move Georgia toward becoming a "nanny state" and disputed claims that the law could bring any federal money.
"There is no federal money to come down if we pass this law," said Rep. Jay Roberts, R-Ocilla, attempting to rally opposition. He also offered an amendment, which failed, to make seat belt laws secondary.
Georgia is among 30 states with primary seat belt laws, allowing officers to ticket violators simply for not wearing seat belts. Secondary laws, in 19 states, allow officers to ticket for seat belt offenses only after pulling someone over for another violation.
Sen. Thomas watched the House vote before returning to Senate applause on its passage. His colleague from Dalton, Rep. Roger Williams, voted for the bill.
"I support Senate Bill 458, not because he's my state senator, but it's the right thing to do," Rep. Williams said. "I don't care whether we get federal dollars or not; it's a good bill; it saves lives."
Continue reading by following these links to related stories:
Article: House adopts seat belt changes to include trucks
Article: House considers ending pickup seat belt exemption
Article: Truck seat belt law revived, OK'd in Georgia Senate
well i"m glad roger williams is running this year at least i can vote against him most of the people in georgia were against this law,but it to was like the healthcare bill don kept bringing it up guess thats their way to get him to retire this year i am very disapointed in all of them do we as adults not have the sense to take care of ourselves,they are all a bunch of lairs and need to be voted out
What a pack of morons, it is not about safety any more than the super speeder laws were, it is about revenue collection by the state. The poiticians nor the cops care one itoa about the safety of anyone on the highways, only about finding more ways to rip citizens off for their money. If they gave a dam about safety, they would do something about the idiots who have a cell phone glued to their ear and pay no attention to their driving. Why don't they do something about these old folks who don't, or can't see the traffis when they pull out or drive too slow for conditions. What about the dummies who have never figured out the left lane in multi lane highways is for the FASTER traffic. This is just another straw of governmenr out to break the back of freedom. Revolution, the forceful return to a governemnt OF the people, BY the people and FOR the people is the only viable solution. Voting another dummie in only to have them forget their responsibilities to the people is not working. Prayer is a mindless brainwashed concept of weak minded cult worshipers and obviosly is pointless. Our forfathers would be disgusted by the actions of our government today, from the small town to the commie on the whitehouse. Send tham all packing.
This is good new. Not only pickup drivers should wear seat belts but all the drivers should. Seat belt is one of the pickup accessories that ensures the safety of the driver.
The belief that a behavior can be imposed upon an individual and justified for the collective good of society is a socialist one.
I believe in seat belts and motorcycle helmets but do not think it is governments job to force them on me. It won't be long before they feel empowered to tell me what I can eat, what to drive and every other little choice that an adult is capable of.
What to eat, what to drive, if you should smoke, when you can drink, what materials your clothes are made from or what kind of healthcare you should have. All decided for you by government. All decided for you in tiny paragraphs written by insurance industry lawyers and advanced by campaign contributions, perks, side deals and K-street lobbyists in Washington D.C.
What stops the madness? Term limits. It takes time to become the brazen money grabbing scum that seems to cling to public office like herpes until it's time to hit the revolving door of big business and then back into the public office again. Term limits stops the gravy train after two terms and the next person with good intentions gets a chance to serve and the veteran politician is forced to relinquish his hold on the money bags.
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