Hey Ohio-Better buckle up!

As States Weigh Tougher Seat Belt Laws to Get Funding,Ohio leads the way.

On order to generate more cash, some  states are giving the green light to cops to pull over drivers who aren’t wearing their seat belts. Of those 15 states that are pushing for more tickets for failure to “click-it”, is Ohio. The key is they have to make the change to the new law before July in order to be eligible for millions in federal cash.

Ohio would get $26.8 million from the federal government. Currently, state troopers need to have some other reason to pull drivers over other than for just driving without their seat belt on.

The governor of Ohio proposed the change in his two-year budget plan released this week.

Twenty-six states as well as Washington D.C. already have primary seat-belt enforcement laws, meaning police can stop you for not having your seat belt on. even if this is the only violation the officers can see.

The federal money attached to seat-belt enforcement can only be spent for highway-related projects.

For those states without primary seat-belt enforcement that want the federal money must pass a bill and have it signed by the governor by June 30 2009 — and begin issuing citations by Sept. 30 — to qualify for federal funds, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For more information about this and other issues that can help you perhaps with your auto insurance, contact Powell Ohio based insurance agency, Kernan Insurance Agency.