The S.C. Senate voted Wednesday to postpone further debate on the issue until today, but after the session, several lawmakers said the bill was more than likely dead.

"Today was the day," said state Sen. David Thomas, R-Greenville. "If we were going to break their filibuster, today would have been the day to do it. It's probably dead now."

Thomas is one of about 30 senators who have said they support the proposed law. Passing a law requires 24 of 46 senators to vote in favor of the measure.

A primary seat belt law would allow police to stop and ticket a motorist for not wearing a seat belt. The fine would be $25 and would go up to $40 if a child younger than 18 is unrestrained.

South Carolina now has a secondary seat belt law, which allows police to ticket motorists for seat belt violations when they are pulled over for another offense. But police can't pull motorists over simply for failure to wear a seat belt.

For five weeks, a group of senators led by Sen. Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, has fought off the measure with a series of filibusters. It requires a two-thirds vote of the Senate, or 28 senators, to sit someone down during a filibuster.

Many senators, however, are philosophically opposed to seating someone during a filibuster. And almost no one would attempt to seat McConnell, the most powerful man in the Senate.

After Wednesday's relatively short filibuster, McConnell seemed certain of victory.

"This bill is dead," he said. "The only question is how we will dispose of it."

McConnell said his side picked up two more votes during the day, which if true, would make it nearly impossible to push through the seat belt legislation.

Several lawmakers are frustrated over the seemingly endless gridlock on the matter. Some feel it's time to move the Senate forward, even at the expense of the bill.

"It's not going to pass," said Sen. Larry Martin, R-Pickens. "It's time to fish or cut bait."

Others are still holding out hope.

"Both sides are short on votes," said Sen. Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken. "To give up at this point would be premature."

Earlier in the day, Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau, attempted to broker a deal in which the Senate postponed debate on the seat belt issue until May, allowing the body to move forward with other issues. Seat belt bill supporters did not go for the delay.

"I think that would have given them a chance," he said. "But now, I think now it's pretty much over for them."

Seat belt supporters may have to settle for a compromise from Sen. Bill Branton, R-Summerville.

Branton is expected to propose an amendment calling for a public referendum on the issue of primary seat belt enforcement. The outcome would carry no legal weight but would answer the question of whether the public supports such a law. Senators could then take the issue up next session, which would essentially kill the current legislation.

"I think we should let the people choose," Branton said. "They can choose for themselves between safety or personal rights. I trust them."

Branton said he has support for the measure from both sides, but on Wednesday several seat belt bill supporters seemed cold to the idea.

"I don't see many people going for that," Thomas said.

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