seat belt use
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Committee on Committee on Transportation |
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Committee on Retirement and Government Operations |
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Caucus and COW |
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As Passed the House |
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House Bill 2509 amends the current vehicle restraint (seat belt) law to provide that the operator of a motor vehicle designed for ten or fewer passengers shall require each passenger under the age of sixteen in the motor vehicle wear a seat belt. HB 2509 also makes seat belt violations a primary offense meaning it will allow a law enforcement officer to stop and issue a citation to a person who is violating seat belt laws regardless of whether another violation of a motor vehicle law has occurred and increases the maximum civil penalty from $10 to $25 for each violation.
Laws 1990, Chapter 240 established the requirement that each front seat occupant of a motor vehicle manufactured for the model year 1972 and thereafter wear the seat belt properly fastened while the vehicle is in motion and required the operator of the vehicle to ensure that each front seat passenger under 16 years of age wear a seat belt. However, current statute provides that a peace officer shall not stop or issue a citation to a person for a seat belt violation unless there is another alleged violation of a motor vehicle law.