COLUMBIA, S.C. (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 yesterday.

Senate Clerk Jeff Gossett said early this 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 this morning to say what Sanford decided to do with the bill or explain his decision. Sanford 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.