Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 19, 1991 TAG: 9102190440
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Elsewhere, a Senate committee killed a bill that would have let consumers block out unwanted telephone pitches.
A House of Delegates committee passed a bill that would make it illegal to recklessly leave a gun in reach of children.
The Senate voted 20-18 for the seat belt bill, which now goes back to the House because it was amended in the Senate to add tougher enforcement provisions.
As passed by the House, the bill made failure to buckle up a traffic violation that goes on a motorist's driving record. The Senate added a provision making the violation a primary instead of a secondary offense.
That means police would be able to stop motorists solely because they are not wearing seat belts. Under current law, motorists can be ticketed only if they are stopped for another traffic violation.
Supporters said the bill would save lives by increasing compliance with the law.
"Every week somebody is getting killed because they were thrown out of the vehicle," said Sen. Madison Marye, D-Shawsville. "If it saves one life, it's worth it."
Opponents said it would not change compliance and would force state troopers to look for seat belt violators instead of solving crimes.
"No matter how hard we try to pass laws, accidents happen. People die," said Sen. Dudley Emick, D-Fincastle.
The primary offense provision, which has been pushed by Lt. Gov. Don Beyer, had been killed in a House committee. But the Senate's action means the measure stays alive and goes directly to the House floor.
Another effort to get around a committee was made in the House on the issue of elected school boards.
Del. David Brickley, D-Prince William, tried to amend a Senate bill that allows limits on school board terms to add his bill that would allow localities to have elected school boards.
House Speaker A.L. Philpott quashed the maneuver by ruling that the amendment was not germane to the bill.
Under the provisions of the gun bill, sponsored by Sen. Moody Stallings, D-Virginia Beach, violators could be jailed for up to 12 months and fined up to $1,000.
The measure also would require firearms dealers, under threat of a $100 fine, to post a specific sign about the potential penalty for leaving a firearm within a child's reach. And it calls for the state Board of Education to develop by next year a firearm safety information program for elementary and middle school students.
The committee's 11-4 vote sends the measure to the House floor. In the Senate, Beyer killed an effort by Sen. Emilie Miller, D-Fairfax, to amend a bill that abolishes the Department for Children, the Department of Volunteerism, the Council on the Status of Women and the Council on Indians.
She suggested eliminating the Board of Veterinary Medicine as well "so that human beings and animals would be on the same footing."
Beyer ruled the amendment was improper. The original bill passed 37-1.
The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee voted 11-4 to kill the bill that would have set up a registry for consumers who want to block out unwanted telephone pitches.
People would pay to have their names on the registry and companies would have to check the list before making their calls.
"We have a workable alternative to our being disturbed by these phone calls that we don't want to receive," said the sponsor, Del. George Grayson, D-Williamsburg.
Lobbyists for companies that make telephone pitches said the bill would be unfair because it would only apply to Virginia firms and not those based out of state.
Committee members said consumers should just hang up when they get the calls.
"You say thank you, but no thanks," said Sen. Richard Saslaw, D-Fairfax.
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
by CNB