In early May of this year Steve Bousquet of the Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau reported the Florida law regarding the wearing of seatbelts was changing effective June 30, 2009. From that time on a Florida Police Officer can stop a driver for not having one on. If the officer believes alcohol or drug use seem to be present or appear in use the Officer can test the driver and then arrest a them for DUI.

 

As many states get tougher about the wearing of seatbelts as an issue, Florida too arrived with a new version. It was reported throughout the media and in The Miami Herald that Governor Charlie Crist signed legislation allowing police in Florida to ticket drivers specifically for not wearing seat belts. This reverses public policy on a decades old policy for seat belts in Florida.

 

The Governor signed the law for many reasons. Perhaps the easiest to understand is the approximately $35 million dollars of federal highway money for safety that Florida became eligible for if the state passed a bill crafted in this manner. Tampa’s AAA Auto Club South entity as well as other local public safety groups got the ball moving all made the goal to get the extra points that the federal money brings to Florida, especially in the current economy.

 

It was reported in the May 6th Miami Herald that Governor Crist had said lives would be saved and that it was government’s role to protect its people. It’s important to the Governor and the state government to protest its residents and citizens. Needless to say it’s obviously important in saving lives on the roads of Florida. The new law will go to work and starts doing its job come June 30th of 2009 by generating a fine of $30 for adults that are front seat violators. This goes along with the existing seatbelt law for minors, under 18 years of age.

 

The seatbelt issue came to the forefront after years of deaths and injuries caused in incidents where no restraints were in use by adult passengers in rear vehicle seats. Recently, Steve Bousquet of the Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau reported on two families who lost their daughters as a result of not wearing seatbelts were killed in crashes and were present for this new laws signing.

 

As with any issue, and especially the lobbying needed to pass an issue, time can be a variable as to whether it’s this year or next. Legislation enactment has an uncertainty that is open ended. For the seatbelt issue, there is no more waiting, it is this year. Both sponsors were present for the signing.

 

AAA lobbied to get the new seatbelt Bill into law. Families and friends of people who had lost loved ones to not wearing seatbelts showed up for the signing of the Bill with the new laws sponsors, earlier in May of this year.

 

Perhaps increased awareness will help encourage people to wear their seatbelts and reduce injuries and deaths as a result. Police are enforcing the new law from June 30th, 2009 forward.