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Call it the Valentine’s Day Massacre.
The Warner administration and several Northern Virginia legislators suffered a major defeat Friday when the House of Delegates changed its mind and rejected a bill that would have let police stop and ticket motorists for not wearing seatbelts.
The Republican-controlled House voted 48-49 against the Warner-backed measure. The day before, the House had voted 49-48 to pass the legislation, Senate Bill 1325.
Sen. William C. Mims (Reastem Loudoun) sponsored SB 1325. He had support from Dels. James F. Almand (D-Arlington) apd Joe T. May (R-Leesburg), who had introduced a similar proposal, House Bill 2711. HB 2711 died last month in. the House Transportation Committee.
May spoke for SB 1325 Thursday on the House floor when it first passed. After delegates reconsidered that vote, May said, “I’m disappointed by the outcome. We gave our very best effort.”
Some delegates say the legislation became a victim of politics. Del. L. Karen Darner (DArlington) said in an interview that Governor Mark Warner’s opponents wanted to hand him a defeat.
Darner voted for SB 1325, as did most other co-sponsors of HB 2711: delegates Thomas M. Bolvin (R-Alexandria), James H, Dillard (R-Fairfax), Robert G. Marshall (R-Manassas) and Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria).
, Other delegates disagreed w'ith Darner, saying the vote concerned public policy.
, “I know what happens when you are stopped by police as a black man in this country, and in Virginia in particular,” said Del. Kenneth Melvin (DPortsmouth).
. Melvin was one of the four Democrats who voted against the bill. “Most police officers do the right thing, but you have knuckleheads out there on these police squads, and that’s who Tm afraid of,” he said.
, Melvin said he likes Warner, and wants him to succeed, but he strongly opposes the bill. “The staff of the governor is not serving him well when a seatbelt bill becomes a primary piece of legislation for a governor of Virginia,” he said.
Currently, failing to wear a seatbelt in Virginia is a sec
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