03/01/2005 08:30 AM Senate JUDICIARY

          SB 87-SEAT BELT VIOLATION AS PRIMARY OFFENSE                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:35:40 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SEEKINS  announced SB 87  up for review. He  called Senator                                                               
Con Bunde and Ms. Lauren Wickersham to introduce SB 87.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR CON  BUNDE introduced  SB 87. Over  20 years  ago federal                                                               
law  passed  requiring the  use  of  seatbelts. SB  87  addresses                                                               
enforcement  of  that  law.  Currently  Alaska  has  a  secondary                                                               
seatbelt  law, meaning  one  can  be stopped  for  not wearing  a                                                               
seatbelt only if their passenger is  16 years or younger. One can                                                               
be issued a ticket for not  wearing a seatbelt only if stopped by                                                               
an officer for another offense.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SB 87 proposes  a seatbelt violation could be  probable cause for                                                               
an  officer to  stop a  vehicle. Research  shows the  majority of                                                               
Alaskans wear  seatbelts. Failure to use  seatbelts cost Alaskans                                                               
thousands  because  insurance   rates  are  negatively  impacted.                                                               
Monetary losses also  impact Medicaid. In states  where a primary                                                               
seatbelt law is  in effect, seatbelt usage has gone  up. Had last                                                               
year's bill  passed it would  have delivered a  positive monetary                                                               
impact and seven people would still be alive.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
8:41:57 AM                                                                                                                    
MS. LAUREN WICKERSHAM,  staff to Senator Con  Bunde, referenced a                                                               
survey of  586 people. The  survey indicated most people  favor a                                                               
law requiring seatbelt use.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:43:36 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SEEKINS commented he spoke  with a national highway traffic                                                               
safety officer and  statistics show that seven  Alaskans would be                                                               
alive  had the  previous bill  passed. Damages,  loss of  income,                                                               
hardships, and  economic and sociological  impact also  should be                                                               
considered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:46:46 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR BUNDE concluded  with reference to a news  article. SB 87                                                               
will  save lives.  Others'  rights stop  when  they impact  other                                                               
people.  87 percent  of  accidents cost  Alaskans  money in  some                                                               
form.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:50:06 AM                                                                                                                    
MS. JOAN DIMOND, municipality of  Anchorage, Department of Health                                                               
and Social Services (DHSS), testified SB  87 is a priority of the                                                               
city  of Anchorage.  SB 87  will  save lives  and reduce  medical                                                               
costs.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:52:34 AM                                                                                                                    
LT.  TODD  SHARP,  Alaska  State   Troopers,  offered  to  answer                                                               
questions.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR CHARLIE HUGGINS  asked Lt. Sharp the cause  and effect of                                                               
SB 87.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
LT. SHARP  said the  data shows  when SB  87 passes,  more people                                                               
will wear seatbelts through education efforts.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SEEKINS  asked Lt. Sharp  if he anticipated  troopers would                                                               
stop vehicles more frequently.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
LT. SHARP answered no.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HOLLIS FRENCH  asked Lt. Sharp if a trooper  would make a                                                               
stop if s/he were unsure whether someone was wearing a seatbelt.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
LT.  SHARP answered  that  would  not be  a  probable cause.  The                                                               
trooper has to be certain.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:55:05 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GRETCHEN GUESS  made  a  motion to  move  SB  87 out  of                                                               
committee with individual recommendations  and zero fiscal notes.                                                               
There being no objections, it was so ordered.