Measure would ban minors from pickup beds

If you do, don't let them ride in the back - at least not if one legislative proposal becomes law.

A proposed bill in the state Legislature would bar minors from riding in truck beds and penalize the driver for any violations. Introduced by Rep. David Eberhart, R-Cave Creek, the measure passed the House Transportation Committee yesterday, 7-0. It should soon be up for a full vote in the House.

Pending legislative approval and Gov. Jane Hull's signature, HB 2539 is slated to go into effect at the end of 2000.

Eberhart could not be reached for comment yesterday, but Alberto Gutierrez, of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, said he was surprised the committee easily passed the bill.

Gutierrez said residents of many Arizona rural counties rely on pickups as the sole family vehicle.

"The only means of transportation in a rural county may be a pickup truck," Gutierrez said.