Summit Focuses on Safety Belt Legislation

Supporters of an effort to strengthen Missouri’s seatbelt legislation by making failure to wear seatbelts a primary – rather than a secondary offense – are hoping to put pressure on lawmakers during the upcoming session of the Legislature that starts in January. Dale Findlay, Executive Director of the Missouri Safety Council, was among a group of supporters who gathered in Columbia to plan strategy. Also attending were State Transportation Director Pete Rahn and representatives of the National Transportation Safety Board. Missouri currently has a secondary seatbelt law, meaning a ticket will only be given to a driver who commits another violation, such as going through a red light. A primary enforcement law would allow police to ticket people solely for not wearing safety belts.