| Tougher Seat Belt Bill Becomes Law |
| COLUMBIA (AP) - A stronger seat belt bill
allowing police to pull over adult drivers solely for not wearing
their seat belt has become law after Governor Mark Sanford did not
veto it by midnight Wednesday. Senate Clerk Jeff Gossett said early Thursday morning the governor did not send him his veto, meaning either Sanford signed the bill or let it become law without his signature. The governor's office did not return a phone message early Thursday morning to say what Sanford decided to do with the bill or explain his decision. But Sanford will be holding media availability at 10:30 a.m. at the State House. He had said he was strongly considering vetoing the bill. The new law will let police pull a driver over simply for not buckling up. A compromise between the House and Senate sets a 25 dollar fine for seat belt offenses with no points on a driver's record. |