By John Hill
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Rhode Island House has voted 52-17 to approve a bill that would make the state's two-year-old seat-belt law permanent.
The vote followed a two-hour debate and two failed attempts to amend the law.
The 2011 law allows the police to stop drivers and issue tickets solely for not wearing their seat belts. Before that, the police could issue seat-belt citations only if they stopped a driver for another reason.
The law was set to expire June 30. Supporters say the law encourages people to wear seat belts and saves lives. Opponents say it's a costly, unnecessary infringement of personal freedoms.
The Senate has not yet voted on the legislation.