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Governor seatbelt proposal raises racial profiling concerns

A proposal endorsed by Governor Mel Carnahan allowing police to pull over adults for not wearing a seat belt raised opposition from the Missouri legislature's only black Republican.

Laetitia Thompson has the story from the state capitol.

Republican Representative Carson Ross says he won't tolerate racial profiling under the new seatbelt proposal.

Ross says he's confident the Missouri Highway Patrol will prevent racial profiling but worries about police enforcement on the local level.

Ross says he will support the seatbelt bill if the House will attach an ammendment addressing his racial profiling concerns.

From Jefferson City, I'm Laetitia Thompson.

The only black Republican in the Missouri legislature raised concerns over racial profiling after Governor Mel Carnahan endorsed a new seatbelt proposal.

Laetitia Thompson has the story from the state capitol.

The governor says police ought to be able to pull over and ticket adults not wearing seatbelts on Missouri's roads.

But Republican Representative Carson Ross says he's concerned the seatbelt proposal could provide an excuse for racial profiling.

Ross says he will support the seatbelt proposal if provisions are made to prevent the potential for racial profiling.

From Jefferson City, I'm Laetitia Thompson