HELENA (AP) -- The House revived a proposal Tuesday that would let police officers stop vehicles in which any child under age 18 is not wearing a seat belt.

Currently, Montana's seat belt law is not a primary offense, meaning police cannot stop vehicles if the only alleged violation is failure to wear a seat belt. Citations for that offense can only be written if the police pull the vehicle over for another offense.

The proposal law endorsed by the House would let officers stop vehicles "if the driver or an occupant of the vehicle is under 18 years of age and is not wearing a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt."

The measure initially was killed on Saturday on a close 51-49 vote, before it was reconsidered and passed on a 50-48 vote Tuesday.

Sponsor Rep. Jill Cohenour, D-East Helena, has argued that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in children. The new law is guaranteed to save lives, she said.

Critics said most parents already buckle their children up and said it's not the state's job to enforce personal responsibility.

The measure faces another key vote in the House before it would be sent to the Senate. That chamber is also considering a bill that would let police stop any driver of any age for not buckling up.

The bill is House Bill 554.