"It was actually a tie vote (3-3) and I had to cast the deciding vote," Willard Mayor Jamie Schoolcraft said late Monday.

Schoolcraft said the bill's critics on the board expressed concerns about police having the authority to pull over drivers for no other reason than failing to buckle up and worried the city was taking action on something that is an individual responsibility.

"I understand their concerns and respect their opinions. I'm just glad the ordinance passed," said Schoolcraft, a paramedic who has worked 18 years in emergency response. "To me it was an important ordinance because I've seen the difference a seat belt makes."

Schoolcraft said the creation of a primary seat belt law also is meant to show that Willard -- where high school students have launched an effort to improve conditions on U.S. 160 -- is doing what it can to promote driving safety.

"What started this whole thing was the horrible accident on 160 where the three high school students were killed (Oct. 8)," he said.

Schoolcraft said the city plans to spend the next several months educating drivers about the new ordinance.