Seatbelt Laws
All drivers, front seat passengers and back seat passengers ages 16 and older must wear their seat belts. The driver of the vehicle is responsible for himself and all children less than 16 years old. Passengers ages 16 and older are responsible for themselves.
- Penalty - $25.50
- Court costs - $153.50
- Penalty - $10
No driver license or insurance points are assessed
Child Passenger Safety Laws
A child less than 8 years of age and less than 80 pounds in weight shall be properly secured in a weight-appropriate child passenger restraint system. In vehicles equipped with an active passenger-side front air bag and if the vehicle has a rear seat, a child less than 5 years of age and less than 40 pounds in weight shall be properly secured in a rear seat unless the child restraint system is designed for use with air bags.
If no seating position equipped with a lap and shoulder belt to properly secure the weight-appropriate child passenger restraint system is available, a child less than 8 years of age and between 40 and 80 pounds may be restrained by a properly fitted lap belt only. Children who weigh 80 pounds or more may be restrained by a properly fitted seatbelt and shoulder harness. Children less than age 16 in front or back seats are covered under this law. The driver is responsible for all children less than 16 years old.
- Penalty not to exceed $25
- $188 full court costs
- Two (2) driver license points
- No insurance points
- No conviction if child is less than eight years old and proof is presented at trial that CRD has been acquired since violation.
Children in rear-facing child safety seats should not be placed in the front seats of vehicles equipped with passenger-side air bags. The impact of a deploying air bag striking a rear-facing child safety seat could result in serious injury to the child.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated that child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants (younger than 1 year old) and by 54 percent for toddlers (1 to 4 years old) in passenger cars.
Children under age 13 should ride in the back seat for maximum safety.