Possible tougher seat belt laws in Capital City

After several recent deadly car crashes in Mid-Missouri involving people who were not using their seat belts, the Capital City may soon be taking tougher action.

Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin unveiled her plans to ABC 17 News to pursue making failure to use a safety belt a primary offense for drivers in Jefferson City. That would allow someone to be stopped by police for not using a seat belt. Currently in Missouri, failure to use seat belts is only a secondary offense and a driver cannot be pulled over for being unbuckled. They can be ticketed for not being buckled-up, but must be stopped by police for another valid reason.

During her Friday appearance on ABC 17 News “This Week,” Mayor Tergin said public safety is very important to her. When asked about the possible perception such a law could be just another reason police can stop people, the Mayor said, “I don’t buy that excuse and I know that it is an excuse that people have talked about…but they should be wearing (a seat belt) in the first place. Always! There are no cases when they should not be wearing it.”

There is no set date for the seat belt measure to go before city council, but ABC 17 News will be following Mayor Tergin’s efforts, as well as, the community’s reaction to it.