Seat belt law for passengers in rear of pickups derailed

Wednesday, May 28, 1997 | 10:49 a.m.

AB323 was up for amendment and a final vote possibly later this week. But after questions arose, Assemblywoman Marcia de Braga, D-Fallon, asked that it be sent to her Natural Resources Committee for further study.

De Braga said some committee members want to kill the measure and she's not sure how it will fare. Other members are worried about the impact on ranchers and miners in the rural areas. She said she favors the seat belts in town but isn't sure they should be required in other areas.

Assemblyman Jack Close, R-Las Vegas, sponsor of the measure, said it focuses on a major problem of youngsters riding in the back of a pickup and being bounced out. Last year, a young girl fell from the back of a pickup that he was following, and he narrowly avoided hitting the girl.

Close said no restraints would be required if the driver was going less than 20 mph. The bill applies only to vehicles on highways, and doesn't affect pickup trucks with camper shells or slide-on tops.

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