COLUMBIA--Facing dissension in the ranks, House
Speaker David Wilkins and a Republican faction worked into Wednesday evening to
breathe life into a bill that would strengthen seat-belt enforcement.
Majority Leader Jim Merrill, R-Daniel Island, built a majority coalition
against Wilkins that would have sent the bill back to a committee. Wilkins'
allies used House rules to delay consideration of the bill until today.
Supporters and opponents circulated in the room methodically Wednesday,
slapping backs and kneeling beside lawmakers' desks to woo votes.
"It's a relatively close vote," said Wilkins, who downplayed the significance
of the House's top GOP leaders butting heads.
After adjournment, supporters vowed to lobby aggressively, hoping to sway
about a dozen members.
"It's manageable if the right people make the right calls," said Rep. Ronald
Townsend, R-Anderson, chairman of the education committee that shaped the bill.
"If people believe in the seat-belt law and their representative didn't vote for
it, then we ought to let them know."
Relatively little opposition had been expected because the House has passed
the measure twice. Last year, the bill, which would allow police to pull over
drivers for not wearing their seat belts, died in the Senate.
The Senate took the lead this session, approving a version of the bill last
month, but opposition in the House began to mount.
"We've always counted on the Senate to kill it, but with their change in
rules, we can't rely on them anymore," said Rep. Shirley Hinson, R-Goose Creek,
who worked closely with Merrill to combat the bill. "It's the House's turn to
take care of this and kill it."
State law allows police to ticket drivers for not wearing seat belts only if
they are stopped for other violations; they can't stop someone for not wearing a
seat belt. This bill would change that and establish a $25 fine for each
violation in a vehicle.
Supporters say the bill is mostly about safety. But it also brings financial
rewards because it meets federal requirements that could bring in $18 million in
highway grants from Washington. The money issue was a particular sticking point,
with debate centering on where fine revenue would go and how the federal money
would be spent.
"Seat belts save lives; that's been proven," Townsend said. "If seat belts
save lives, then why shouldn't we be an advocate for the safety of the motoring
public?"
Opponents say the bill robs people of their rights and gives police too much
power to stop motorists.
"There are tremendous flaws in this bill, and it's an amazing intrusion to
privacy," Merrill said.
