The State Senate : Seat Belts

Citing “Big Brother” intrusion into people’s lives, the state Senate rejected pleas that it could “save 1,000 lives a year,” and failed to muster enough votes to approve SB50, the Senate version of a mandatory seat-belt bill.

The vote was 19 to 18 in favor of the measure, with at least 21 needed for approval.

Sen. John Foran (D-San Francisco), the bill’s author, won permission to have his bill reconsidered.

Foran’s bill failed to win the support of the insurance industry and two of the bills co-authors ended up voting against it.

Sources said the defeat of the Senate bill could spell trouble for an seat-belt measure already passed in the Assembly and sent to the Senate. Foran chairs the Senate Transportation Committee, which will hear the Assembly bill. The committee earlier rejected a nearly identical bill.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Sen. Roberti (D) x Sen. Russell (R) x Sen. Torres (D) x

The Assembly

Air Bags and Belts

By a 46-29 vote, the Assembly approved AB27 by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) which would require most motorists and their passengers to wear seat belts.

The bill, which was sponsored by several major insurance companies, also would require auto manufacturers to install air bags or other safety devices in cars sold in California.

With a fine of $20 for the first violation of the seat belt requirement and $50 for each subsequent offense, the bill would subject auto makers to a $500 fine for each car sold in the state after Sept. 1, 1989.

The measure was sent on to the state Senate.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote La Follette (R) x Nolan (R) x Roos (D) x