State considers change to seat belt law

MADISON - Drivers, get ready. You could soon see police lights in your rearview mirror if you don't buckle up.

Wisconsin is considering a new regulation known as "primary enforcement" that would allow police to pull you over for not wearing a seat belt. Right now, you can only be fined for not wearing a seat belt if officers pull you over for another violation.

The state says the new law would be about safety, but it's also about money.

If Wisconsin enacts the regulation, it will be eligible for more federal aid, but critics say, in the end, the new law wouldn't be worth all the work.

"It'll do something," said State Sen. Alan Lasee (R-Town of Rockland), "but the way that we spend money these days - in Madison, in Washington – it's a drop in the bucket."

"The money to me is irrelevant," said Mikel Holt, who supports primary enforcement. "There's a higher purpose. People need to buckle up and if they have to be forced to buckle up, so be it."

Wisconsin has until June 30 to get the bill passed.