Rep. Bob Loonan (R-Shakopee)
Juries in vehicle-crash cases could be told whether those injured were wearing seatbelts, under a major public safety bill the Minnesota House passed Monday. Saint Paul Democrat John Lesch opposes it, pointing to a woman not belted who was killed when a semi rear-ended a stopped vehicle in Saint Cloud. Lesch says, “If she is not responsible for her own death, then your bill is giving the opportunity for a jury to think that she could be responsible for her own death.” Shakopee Republican Bob Loonan responds his bill allows the judge to decide whether seat belt evidence is admissible. He says, “I agree that there’s other instances where seatbelt usage isn’t going to be a factor…. What removing that gag order does, is it appropriately moves that decision as close to the situation as possible.”