The Laws By State
This table contains a brief summary of all seatbelt laws in the United States. This list includes only seatbelt laws, which often do not themselves apply to children; however, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have separate child restraint laws. Keep in mind these fines are the base fines only before in many cases considerable extra fees for such as the head injury fund, court security fees can mark up the fine to almost 5 times as much in some cases. These are also "first offense" fines. A subsequent offense may be much higher.
| State | Type of law | Date of first law | Who is covered | Base fine before fees | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Primary Enforcement | July 18, 1991 | Age 15+ in front seats | $25 | 91.4% |
| Alaska | Primary Enforcement | September 12, 1990 | Age 16+ in all seats | $15 ($25 actual) | 86.8% |
| Arizona | Secondary Enforcement | January 1, 1991 | Age 5+ in front seats; Age 5–15 in all seats | $10 ($37.20 actual) | 81.8% |
| Arkansas | Primary Enforcement | July 15, 1991 | Age 15+ in front seats | $25 | 78.3% |
| California | Primary Enforcement | January 1, 1986 | Age 16+ in all seats | $20 ($88 actual) $50 second offense ($190 actual) | 96.2% |
| Colorado | Secondary Enforcement 4 | July 1, 1987 | All front seats; under 16 all seats | $71 | 82.9% |
| Connecticut | Primary Enforcement | January 1, 1986 | Age 7+ in front seats | $92 | 88.2% |
| Delaware | Primary Enforcement | January 1, 1992 | Age 16+ in all seats | $25 | 90.7% |
| District of Columbia | Primary Enforcement | December 12, 1985 | Age 16+ in all seats | $502 | 92.3% |
| Florida | Primary Enforcement | July 1, 1986 | 6+ years in front seat; 6 through 17 years in all seats | $30 | 87.4% |
| Georgia | Primary Enforcement | September 1, 1988 | Age 6–17 in all seats; Age 18+ in front seats | $15 | 89.6% |
| Hawaii | Primary Enforcement | December 16, 1985 | Age 8–17 in all seats; Age 18+ in front seat | $45 ($92 actual) | 97.6% |
| Idaho | Secondary Enforcement | July 1, 1986 | Age 7+ in all seats | $10 ($51.50 actual) | 77.9% |
| Illinois | Primary Enforcement | January 1, 1988 | Age 16+ in all seats | $25 ($60 actual or $95 if choosing traffic school) | 92.6% |
| Indiana | Primary Enforcement | July 1, 1987 | Age 16+ in all seats | $25 | 92.4% |
| Iowa | Primary Enforcement | July 1, 1986 | Age 11+ in front seats | $50 ($127.50 actual) | 93.1% |
| Kansas | Primary Enforcement1 | July 1, 1986 | Age 14–17 in all seats; age 18+ in front seat | $30 | 81.8% |
| Kentucky | Primary Enforcement | July 15, 1994 | More than 40 in. tall in all seats | $25 | 80.3% |
| Louisiana | Primary Enforcement | July 1, 1986 | Age 13+ in front seats | $25 | 75.9% |
| Maine | Primary Enforcement | December 26, 1995 | Age 18+ in all seats | $70 1st offence, $160 second up to $310 for a 3rd offense | 82.0% |
| Maryland | Primary Enforcement | July 1, 1986 | Age 16+ in front seats | $25 | 94.7% |
| Massachusetts | Secondary Enforcement | February 1, 1994 | Age 12+ in all seats | $25 | 73.7% |
| Michigan | Primary Enforcement | July 1, 1985 | Age 4+ in front seats; Age 4–15 in all seats | $65 | 95.2% |
| Minnesota | Primary Enforcement | August 1, 1986 | Anyone not covered by child passenger safety law in all seats | $25 + $75 fee | 92.3% |
| Mississippi | Primary Enforcement | July 1, 1994 | Age 4–7 in all seats; Age 8+ in front seat | $25 | 81.0% |
| Missouri | Secondary Enforcement | September 28, 1985 | Age 16+ in front seats | $10 | 76.0% |
| Montana | Secondary Enforcement | October 1, 1987 | Age 6+ in all seats | $20 | 78.9% |
| Nebraska | Secondary Enforcement | January 1, 1993 | Age 18+ in all seats | $25 | 84.1% |
| Nevada | Secondary Enforcement | July 1, 1987 | Age 6+ in all seats | $25 | 93.2% |
| New Hampshire | Primary for children only | No law | Age 17 and under in all seats | $50 | 72.2% |
| New Jersey | Primary Enforcement1 | March 1, 1985 | Age 18+ in front seat5; age 8–17 in all seats | $50 per person | 93.7% |
| New Mexico | Primary Enforcement | January 1, 1986 | Age 18+ in all seats | $252 | 89.8% |
| New York | Primary Enforcement | December 1, 1984 | Age 16+ in front seats | $50 ($135 Actual after surcharges) | 89.8% |
| North Carolina | Primary Enforcement1 | October 1, 1985 | Age 16+ in all seats | $25 ($161 Actual after court costs) | 89.7% |
| North Dakota | Secondary Enforcement | July 14, 1994 | Age 18+ in front seats | $20 (actual $100.50) | 74.8% |
| Ohio | Secondary Enforcement | May 6, 1986 | Age 15+ in front seat; 4–14 in all seats | $30 | 83.8% |
| Oklahoma | Primary Enforcement | February 1, 1987 | Age 13+ in front seats | $20 | 85.9% |
| Oregon | Primary Enforcement | December 7, 1990 | Age 16+ in all seats | $90 | 97.0% |
| Pennsylvania | Secondary Enforcement | November 23, 1987 | Age 8+ in front seats | $10 | 86.0% |
| Rhode Island | Primary Enforcement | June 18, 1991 | Age 13+ in all seats | $75 | 78.0% |
| South Carolina | Primary Enforcement | July 1, 1989 | Age 6+ in all seats | $25 | 85.4% |
| South Dakota | Secondary Enforcement | January 1, 1995 | Age 18+ in front seats | $20 | 74.5% |
| Tennessee | Primary Enforcement | April 21, 1986 | Age 16+ in front seats | $50 | 87.1% |
| Texas | Primary Enforcement | September 1, 1985 | Age 8+ in all seats | $200 | 93.8% |
| Utah | Secondary Enforcement | April 28, 1986 | Age 16+ in all seats | $45 | 89.0% |
| Vermont | Secondary Enforcement | January 1, 1994 | Age 16+ in all seats | $25 | 85.2% |
| Virginia | Secondary Enforcement 4 | January 1, 1988 | Age 18+ in front seats | $25 | 80.5% |
| Washington | Primary Enforcement | June 11, 1986 | Age 16+ in all seats | $124 | 97.6% |
| West Virginia | Secondary Enforcement | September 1, 1993 | Age 8+ in front seats; 8–17 in all seats | $25 | 82.1% |
| Wisconsin | Primary Enforcement | December 1, 1987 | Age 8+ in all seats | $10 | 79.2% |
| Wyoming | Secondary Enforcement | June 8, 1989 | Age 9+ in all seats | $25 | 78.9% |
1North Carolina, Kansas, and New Jersey's law is Secondary Enforcement for rear seat occupants.
2These states assess points on one's driving record for the seat belt violation.
3In California- An additional penalty of $24 shall be levied upon every $10 or fraction thereof, of every fine, penalty, or forfeiture imposed by and collected by the court for criminal offenses, including all traffic offenses, except parking offenses as defined in subdivision (i) of Penal Code § 1463. The additional penalty is calculated as follows:
• State penalty required by PC 1464 $10, • County penalty required by GC 76000(e), $ 7 • Court facilities construction penalty required by GC 70372(a),$ 3 • DNA Identification Fund penalty required by GC 76104.6 and 76104.7,$ 2 • Emergency medical services penalty required by GC 76000.5,$ 2
Penal Code § 1465.8 requires imposition of an additional fee of twenty dollars ($20) for court security on every conviction for a criminal offense, including a traffic offense, except parking offenses as defined in Penal Code § 1463,$20
4 Virginia and Colorado's Law is Secondary for adults but Primary for under the age of 16.
5 Effective January 1, 2011, New Jersey's law is Secondary susy is here for rear seat occupants.
Read more about this topic: Seat Belt Legislation In The United States
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