Click it or pay it: Florida's new seatbelt law

FLORIDA - Starting June 30, you don't have to be speeding or swerving to be pulled over by a law enforcement officer.

Drivers can now be stopped for failing to wear a seatbelt and fined $93 as part of the primary enforcement of Florida's safety belt requirements, according to a new law. Before June 30, failing to buckle up wasn't reason enough for an officer to pull a car over.

According to the National highway Traffic Safety Administration, 87 percent of drivers wear seatbelts in states with a primary seatbelt law. That's 14 percent higher than states with a secondary seatbelt law.

A 2008 NHTSA study reported states with primary enforcement laws ranked in the top five for safety belt usage. Florida ranked 35th in the nation.

The NHTSA estimates Florida can expect to save 124 lives each year with the new law and 1,700 people will be spared serious injuries. Estimates also show costs associated with accidents would be reduced by $408 million.

In 2007, statistics show that seatbelt use saved 857 lives and $3.8 billion in costs.

The federal government has provided financial incentives for states to pass primary seatbelt laws as part of the 2005 reauthorization of the Highway Bill known as the Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Act. Legislation had to be passed and signed into law by June 30, 2009 to qualify for the federal money.

Florida has met the deadline and should receive $35.5 million from the federal government.