Primary Seat Belt Law (H 5544, S 22)

For many years, the ACLU and community groups have testified against passage of a primary seat belt bill unless legislation to reduce racial profiling is also enacted. While the benefits to wearing a seat belt are clear, the Coalition Against Racial Profiling remained concerned that a primary seat belt law would only exacerbate racial profiling in Rhode Island.  Tempted by the promise of $3 million in federal funding, the General Assembly disagreed, and approved passage of a primary seat bill this year after years of rejecting the proposal.