Lawmakers want you to buckle up or pay up. A law is in the works that would make citations mandatory if you are caught not wearing one in South Carolina.

First, a look at the numbers. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, seat belts save 13,000 lives each year. But 7,000 people die because they were not wearing one. Here in South Carolina, of the 770 people killed on the roads, 543 didn't buckle up.

With a new law, you could get pulled over just because you didn't buckle up. Currently in South Carolina, you can only get a ticket, if you are already breaking another law such as speeding.

The reasons for not wearing a seat-belt go on and on. Matt Eaves, a Mount Pleasant driver told News 2 he's heard them all. "Maybe they're just being too lazy and not taking the time to do it," said Eaves.

Curtis Moore is a cab driver. He says he encourages his customers to buckle up, but they too have excuses. "It's too tight, or it's just uncomfortable," he said. "But I tell you what, I wear my all the time," said Moore.

The excuses could come to a halt. Lance Corporal Paul Brouthers is a spokesman for South Carolina's Highway Patrol. He said making an excuse for not wearing a seat-belt is not worth it. "I would say as far as it being an inconvenient thing, its more of an inconvenience to have a full-time care-giver because you chose not to wear a safety belt," said Brouthers.

More than half of all highway fatalities occur because people didn't buckle up. But a law is in the works to allow officers to issue a ticket any time they see an unbelted motorist. "Of the 770 people killed - that could have or should have worn a safety belt last year...543 who died had not buckled up," said Brouthers.

The goal is to get 90 percent of all drivers to wear a seat-belt or to get every state to adopt a primary seat belt law. But if south Carolina fails to meet that goal within three years, the state could lose two percent of its federal highway funding. That's a price road projects in the Lowcountry can't really afford to pay. And its a strong incentive for states to crack down on those who don't click.

Kristie Shull is a Mount Pleasant driver who supports the proposed legislation. "You never know when you'll get in an accident- and it doesn't take long to do it- it's there," she said.

The legislation is currently in the U.S. Senate. If it passes, it still must head to the House for approval.

Currently only 20 states and Washington D.C. has a primary enforcement seat belt law. Research shows that a law in place, raises seat belt use by about 15 percent. If the law passes, South Carolina would allow officers to issue tickets if you're stopped only because you were not wearing a seat-belt.