BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Louisiana House has backed a proposal to double fines against people caught not wearing seatbelts.
Rep. Walt Leger, a New Orleans Democrat, says his bill to increase the fine from $25 to $50 will generate more money for the state and save lives. Drivers would pay $75 each additional time.
The House passed the bill to raise the fine Wednesday in a 62-34 vote. The proposal now moves to the Senate for a committee hearing.
Leger says the number one factor in increasing seatbelt usage is raising fines. At $50, Louisiana will still rank among states with the lowest penalties, he says.
Rep. Barry Ivey, a Baton Rouge Republican, supported the bill and said he’d like to see a higher fine.
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House Bill 751: www.legis.la.gov
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