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State Seatbelt Use Laws
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(As of September 2019)

State 2018
usage
rate		 Primary/
secondary
enforcement (1)		 Age requirements Maximum
fine, first
offense		 Damages
reduced (2)
Alabama 91.8% P 15+ yrs. in front seat $25  
Alaska 91.6 P 16+ yrs. in all seats 15 X
Arizona 85.9 S 8+ yrs. in front seat;
8-15 yrs. in all seats		 10 X
Arkansas 78.0 P 15+ yrs. in front seat 25  
California 95.9 P 16+ yrs. in all seats 20 X
Colorado 86.3 S 16+ yrs. in front seat 71 X
Connecticut 92.1 P 8+ yrs. in front seat 50  
Delaware 92.4 P 16+ yrs. in all seats 25  
D.C. 95.1 P 16+ yrs. in all seats 50  
Florida 90.6 P 6+ yrs. in front seat;
6-17 yrs. in all seats		 30 X
Georgia 96.3 P 8-17 yrs. in all seats;
18+ yrs. in front seat		 15-25  
Hawaii 97.8 P 8+ yrs. in all seats 45  
Idaho 85.4 S 7+ yrs. in all seats 10  
Illinois 94.6 P 16+ yrs. in all seats 25  
Indiana 93.4 P 16+ yrs. in all seats 25  
Iowa 93.9 P 18+ yrs. in front seat 25 X
Kansas 84.0 P (3) 14+ yrs. in all seats 60  
Kentucky 89.9 P 7 and younger and more
than 57 inches tall in all seats;
8+ yrs. in all seats		 25  
Louisiana 86.9 P 13+ yrs. in all seats 50  
Maine 88.5 P 18+ yrs. in all seats 50  
Maryland 90.3 P (3) 16+ yrs. in all seats 50  
Massachusetts 81.6 S 13+ yrs. in all seats 25 (4)  
Michigan 93.4 P 16+ yrs. in front seat 25 X
Minnesota 92.4 P 7 and younger and more
than 57 inches tall in all seats;
8+ yrs. in all seats		 25  
Mississippi 80.2 P 7+ yrs. in all seats 25  
Missouri 87.1 S (5) 16+ yrs. in front seat 10 X
Montana 86.6 S 6+ yrs. in all seats 20  
Nebraska 85.5 S 18+ yrs. in front seat 25 X
Nevada 91.9 S 6+ yrs. in all seats 25  
New Hampshire 76.4 No law for adults      
New Jersey 94.5 P (3) 7 yrs. and younger and more
than 57 inches;
8+ yrs. in all seats		 20 X
New Mexico 90.2 P 18+ yrs. in all seats 25  
New York 92.9 P 16+ yrs. in front seat 50 X
North Carolina 91.3 P (3) 16+ yrs. in all seats 25  
North Dakota 82.5 S 18+ yrs. in front seat 20 X
Ohio 84.9 S 8-14 yrs. in all seats;
15+ yrs. in front seat		 30 driver/20 passenger X
Oklahoma 85.6 P 9+ yrs. in front seat 20  
Oregon 95.8 P 16+ yrs. in all seats 115 X
Pennsylvania 88.5 S (5) 18+ yrs. in front seat 10  
Rhode Island 88.8 P 18+ yrs. in all seats 40  
South Carolina 89.7 P 8+ yrs. in all seats 25  
South Dakota 78.9 S 18+ yrs. in front seat 20  
Tennessee 90.9 P 16+ yrs. in front seat 30  
Texas 91.3 P 7 yrs. and younger who
are 57 inches or taller;
8+ yrs. in all seats		 200  
Utah 89.0  P 16+ yrs. in all seats 45  
Vermont 89.8 S 18+ yrs. in all seats 25  
Virginia 84.1 S 18+ yrs. in front seat 25  
Washington 93.2 P 16+ yrs. in all seats 124  
West Virginia 90.5 P 8+ yrs. in front seat;
8-15 yrs. in all seats		 25 X
Wisconsin 89.3 P 8+ yrs. in all seats 10 X
Wyoming 86.3 S 9+ yrs. in all seats 25 driver/10 passenger  
United States 89.6%        

(1) Primary enforcement means police may stop a vehicle and issue a fine for noncompliance with seatbelt laws. Secondary enforcement means that police may issue a fine for not wearing a seatbelt only if the vehicle has been stopped for other traffic violations.
(2) Court awards for compensation for injury may be reduced if seatbelt laws were violated.
(3) Secondary for rear seat occupants, ages vary.
(4) Drivers fined additional $25 for themselves and for every unrestrained passenger age 12 to under 16 years old.
(5) Primary enforcement for children; ages vary.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

 

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