COLUMBIA, S.C. - Police could stop adult drivers for not wearing a seat belt under a bill that's likely to be on Gov. Mark Sanford's desk by Wednesday.

A Senate and House conference committee worked out final language on the bill Tuesday.

"It prevents injuries and will save money for South Carolina," Senate Transportation Committee chairman Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken, said. Ryberg, the bill's author, led the conference committee.

The Senate quickly adopted the compromise and the House is expected to do so Wednesday, just a day before the mandatory 5 p.m. adjournment Thursday.

Other big bills also in conference committees are facing that deadline, including legislation that clears the way for state retirees to get cost-of-living adjustments in July and a bill that lets bars and restaurants freely pour liquor from large bottles instead of minibottles. Committees handling those issues met Tuesday but crafted no final deals.

The seat belt bill closes a gap in state law. Police already can stop and ticket unbelted drivers younger than 18 or adults driving with unrestrained children in their cars. But adult drivers can be ticketed for failing to buckle up only if they have been stopped for another traffic offense.

The compromise sets a $25 fine for seat belt offenses. The fine had been a key difference between the House and Senate. The Senate wanted a $12 fine, but would allow court fees could raise that $49. The conference committee adopted the House's $25 fine with no add-on fees.

That wasn't much of an issue to fight over when "you compare $25 to a life. That issue wasn't worth sticking for," Ryberg said.

The compromise means "we came out with a better bill all over," House Education and Public Works Committee chairman Ronny Townsend, R-Anderson, said.

The legislation also:

_ Says the offenses cannot be reported to insurance companies.

_ Requires the state to create a public database that can be used to show whether police use race as a factor in seat belt stops.

_ Bars issuing seat belt tickets at traffic checkpoints.

_ Police can't ask to search cars and drivers can't consent to searches at seat belt stops.

_ Requires the state to run a seat-belt safety education program.

Sanford has previously threatened to veto a weak seat belt bill. He will "take a close look at the legislation," Will Folks, the governor's spokesman, said.

Sanford has repeatedly called for a seat belt bill that allows a conviction for not buckling up to be a factor in injury lawsuits and to cost scofflaws more on their car insurance.

The governor wants "a market-based approach," Folks said. Fear of losing money in court cases or paying more for insurance will change habits, Folks said.

Townsend said Tuesday he expects Sanford to veto the bill.

If he does, the House and Senate would deal with that veto when they return in a special session for two days beginning June 14. Supporters would have to get a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly to override a veto.