(AP) – A KDOT official says if state lawmakers

don’t produce a tougher seat belt law by the end of the session,

they probably never will.

Under current law, a driver can’t be cited for nonuse of seat

belts if not cited for the violation that prompted the stop.

KDOT law enforcement liaison Dave Corp said at a Hutchinson

luncheon Tuesday that the main obstacle to a tougher law is state

Rep. Gary Hayzlett, a Lakin Republican who is chairman of the House

Transportation Committee.

Hayzlett said, “They would like to blame one person,” noting

that a bill allowing primary enforcement of seat belt use failed

65-55 in the House this month.

Corp also said Kansas could get about $11 million in federal

funds if it made seat belt use a primary violation, incentives

Hayzlett called “the same old federal blackmail.”

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