Wyo Transportation Director: State Needs Primary Seat Belt Law

by Phil Noble, Cowboy State Free Press Bureau Chief

CHEYENNE—In discussions with the legislature’s Joint Interim Appropriations Committee regarding money for fines connected to traffic violations, Wyoming Department of Transportation Director John Cox suggested it is time for the state to adopt a mandatory seat belt law.

Wyoming law currently gives traffic violators including those caught speeding a $10 break off their fine if they are wearing their seat belt. The state also has what is called a “secondary” seat belt law, meaning drivers can’t be stopped for not wearing a seat belt but can be fined for not wearing one if stopped for another offense.

The legislature has resisted attempts in the past to impose a primary seat belt law. The discussion in the budget committee came up when Sen. Mike Massie, D-Albany County, asked WyDoT officials whether that $10 fine exemption for wearing a seat belt actually works to encourage people to use seat belts. Massie said he had asked the Legislative Services Office to research how much money the state was losing by exempting $10 from each ticket and they came up with a figure of $800,000.

“We could use that money somewhere else,” Massie said, “maybe in child services somewhere.”

Wyoming Highway Patrol Chief Sam Powell told the committee it was his opinion the law once worked, but was no longer a factor in people’s use of seat belts. He noted Wyoming is among the lowest in the nation in usage of seat belts.

Sen. Charles Scott, R-Natrona County, earlier said he will sponsor a bill in next month’s legislative session to raise fines for not wearing a seat belt if stopped for an offense.