Topeka ? A bill requiring all minors to wear seat belts or ride in special safety seats won Senate approval Wednesday.

The measure, approved and sent to the House on a 30-9 vote, also would triple the fine for violating the law to $60.

Senators approved similar bills in 2001, 2002 and 2004, only to see them die in the other chamber. Supporters contend the measure will save lives. Critics say it will burden families.

Current law requires children under 4 to ride in special child safety seats and requires children age 4 through 13 and drivers and front-seat passengers to wear seat belts. Officers can only ticket people for violating that law if they first stop a driver for another reason, such as speeding.

Under the bill, children 4 through 7 would have to ride in booster seats, designed to provide more protection than seat belts, if they weigh less than 80 pounds or are less than 4-foot-9 in height. Anyone else under 18 would have to wear seat belts.

The requirement to buckle up wouldn’t apply if a car had more children than seat belts.