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Tougher Seat Belt Laws In Florida

By Eddie Farah

Ever since Dori Slosberg and Katie Marchetti died in separate auto accidents more than a decade ago, their parents felt their deaths had a higher purpose.

Neither young woman was wearing a seat belt when they were killed.

For 13 years, Irv Slosberg tried to get through the Florida legislature a bill that would allow police officers to pull over anyone who is not wearing a seat belt. That would be considered a primary offense.

Until now, Florida only allowed a ticket to be written if an officer noticed that, in addition to the reason the person was pulled over, they were also not wearing a seat belt. That is a secondary offense.

Former legislator Slosberg was all thumbs up Wednesday after the Florida House passed a bill (SB344) that makes a seat belt violation a primary offense. Gov. Charlie Crist is expected to sign it into law. It would go into effect in June.

"Every time I hear my daughter's name, it's emotional," said Slosberg, 61. "It's a great day for Floridians. We have a better, safer place to live," he tells First Coast News.

The law carries a fine of $30, not exactly a stern punishment, and no points are added to a driver's record, unless you child is not in a car seat. It is expected to bring in another $35 million in federal highway money.

For years, Florida lawmakers had objected to the bill because they thought it would make it easier for police to randomly pull over someone they had profiled based on race, and then use the seatbelt as an excuse.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, making a seat belt offense a primary offense is predicted to save about 124 lives in Florida every year and prevent more than 1,700 serious injuries.

It's hard to believe people do not wear their seat belts, and statistics show about 82 percent of us do. This primary enforcement law will increase the number of people buckled in and besides tangible highway money, we should have a few more people surviving the devastating injuries from an auto accident. And that means something to these parents who have lost so much.

"It's in her honor," Laura Marchetti said. "There's nothing greater than the love of your children. Even where she is now we're still being her parents and honoring her. We always will."

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Eddie Farah

Full post as published by Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyer on April 29, 2009 (boomark / email).