Bad Bill Bob's Commentary on SB237

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
In the last five sessions this bill has been introduced;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
1999 - HB329                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
2001 - SB64                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
2003 - SB 116                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
2005 - SB 43                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
2007 - SB 300                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
And here it is again - except this one is designed for passengers. A new twist.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
If passed this bill will require all drivers of vehicles to wear seatbelts,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
or else they will be given a citation. In some states these tickets can exceed $200. This                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
is called the primary seatbelt law. Only 28 states have such a law. The big push by the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
federal government (Transportation Department) began with an order from President                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
Clinton to request all states to pass primary seatbelt legislation.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
Everytime this bill has been introduced in MT, it has been at the request of the Attorney General.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
In the last session, 28 associations testified in favor of it. While a handful of private citizens                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
opposed it. It ultimately failed in committee. And in preparation for the upcoming session, the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
Attorney General is working with others in a massive campaign to push for this issue.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
AG McGrath and fellow democrats even organized a website and begin advertising                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
campaigns on television across the state.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
There is no doubt that seatbelts can save lives in some accidents. But the issue here is                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
personal responsibility. It has never been the role of government to issue citations to                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
citizens for doing things that government does not agree with.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
To sum up this issue, the Montana Republican Party platform (Crime Plank) states it best:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
"We oppose laws that would change Montana's seatbelt law from a secondary offense to                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
a primary offense. Montana drivers should be punished for driving in a reckless                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
manner, and not because the driver was driving in a safe manner, without                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
wearing a seatbelt"