SCS/SB 17 - This act modifies the law relating to motor vehicle safety. REPEAL OF MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION - This act repeals the motor vehicle safety inspection program effective January 1, 2008. The safety inspection remains in place for school buses and such inspections will be conducted by the highway patrol. The act, as part of the motor vehicle safety inspection repeal, modifies various provision relating to the emissions inspection. For instance, under the current law, a new motor vehicle is exempt from undergoing an emissions inspection for its first four years provided that its odometer reading is less than 40,000 at its first biennial safety inspection. Under this version, the 40,000 mile limitation has been removed since no safety inspection exists to verify the mileage. Under the new emissions inspection to go into effect September 1, 2007, motor vehicles driven less than 12,000 miles between biennial safety inspections are exempt from the emissions inspection. Under this act, motor vehicles driven less than 12,000 miles on a biennial basis shall be exempt from the emissions inspection. This portion of the act is similar to SB 479 (2007). SEAT BELT LAW - The act makes the seat belt law applicable to all drivers and passengers. For instance, the current law states that the seat belt requirement applies to the driver and front seat passenger of a passenger car. The act removes the phrase "front seat" to make the seat belt law applicable to back seat passengers as well. The act also modifies the definition of "passenger car" by removing the 12,000 pounds truck exemption. In addition, the exemption which excepted persons 18 years of age or older from wearing a seat belt in a truck is repealed. Persons with medical reasons are exempt from wearing a seat belt provided they possess documentation from a physician to that effect. The act eliminates the secondary enforcement of the seat belt law by allowing law enforcement officers to stop motorists solely for a seat belt violation (primary enforcement). This portion of the act is similar to HB 90 (2007). STEPHEN WITTE