Senate Panel Rejects Rear Seat Belt Use Mandate

A Senate committee has rejected a bill that would have required all occupants of a car, including adults in the rear seat, to have their seat belts buckled while the vehicle was in motion.

The bill, whose prospects had appeared good in a House subcommittee just Thursday morning, was voted down by the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee in the afternoon.

The Senate bill, sponsored by Montgomery County Democrat Jennie Forehand, would have applied the current seat belt violation fine of $25 for drivers to all passengers 16 and older as well.

Current law requires seat belt use by rear seat passengers only if they are younger than 16.

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