Seat Belt Laws
| State |
Who is covered?
In what seats? |
Maximum fine
1st offense |
Can nonuse decrease monetary awards for injuries in lawsuits? |
| Alabama |
15+ years in front seat |
$25 |
No |
| Alaska |
<16+ years in all seats |
$15 |
Yes |
| Arizona |
5+ years in front seat; 5 through 15 in all seats |
$10 |
Yes |
| Arkansas |
15+ years in front seat |
$251 |
No |
| California |
16+ years in all seats |
$20 |
Yes |
| Colorado |
16+ years in front seat |
$15 |
Yes |
| Connecticut |
7+ years in front seat |
$15 |
No |
| Delaware |
16+ years in all seats |
$25 |
No |
| District of Columbia |
16+ years in all seats |
$502 |
No |
| Florida |
6+ years in front seat; 6 through 17 years in all seats |
$30 |
Yes |
| Georgia |
6 through 17 years in all seats; 18+ years in front seat |
$153 |
No |
| Hawaii |
8 through 17 years in all seats; 18+ years in front seat |
$45 |
No |
| Idaho |
7+ years in all seats |
$10 |
No |
| Illinois |
16+ in front seat; 18 and younger in all seats if driver is younger than 18 years |
$25 |
No |
| Indiana |
16+ years in all seats |
$25 |
No |
| Iowa |
11+ years in front seat |
$25 |
Yes |
| Kansas |
14 through 17 in all seats; 18+ in front seat |
$30 |
No |
| Kentucky |
6 and younger and more than 50 inches in all seats; 7+ in all seats |
$25 |
No |
| Louisiana |
13+ years in front seat |
$25 |
No |
| Maine |
18+ years in all seats |
$50 |
No |
| Maryland |
16+ years in front seat |
$50 |
No |
| Massachusetts |
13+ years in all seats |
$254 |
No |
| Michigan |
16+ years in front seat |
$25 |
Yes |
| Minnesota |
all in front seat; 3 through 10 years in all seats |
$25 |
No |
| Mississippi |
7+ years in front seat |
$25 |
No |
| Missouri |
16+ years in front seat |
$10 |
Yes |
| Montana |
6+ years in all seats |
$20 |
Yes |
| Nebraska |
18+ years in front seat |
$25 |
Yes |
| Nevada |
6+ years in all seats |
$25 |
No |
| New Hampshire |
No law |
No law |
No |
| New Jersey |
7 years and younger and more than 80 pounds; 8 through 17 in all seats; 18+ in front seat |
$20 |
Yes |
| New Mexico |
18+ years in all seats |
$252 |
No |
| New York |
16+ years in front seat |
$505 |
Yes |
| North Carolina |
16+ years in all seats |
$25 |
No |
| North Dakota |
18+ years in front seat |
$20 |
Yes |
| Ohio |
8 through 14 in all seats; 15+ years in front seat(effective 10/07/09) |
$30 driver/$20 passenger |
Yes |
| Oklahoma |
13+ years in front seat |
$20 |
No |
| Oregon |
16+ years in all seats |
$90 |
Yes |
| Pennsylvania |
8 through 17 years in all seats; 18+ years in front seat |
$10 |
No |
| Rhode Island |
18+ years in all seats |
$75 |
No |
| South Carolina |
6+ years in front seat; 6+ years in rear seat with shoulder belt |
$256 |
No |
| South Dakota |
18+ years in front seat |
$20 |
No |
| Tennessee |
16+ years in front seat |
$507 |
No |
| Texas |
4 and younger and 36 in or more; 5 through 16 years in all seats; 17+ years in front seat |
$200 |
No |
| Utah |
16+ years in all seats |
$45 |
No |
| Vermont |
16+ years in all seats |
$25 |
No |
| Virginia |
16+ years in front seat |
$25 |
No |
| Washington |
16+ years in all seats |
$124 |
No |
| West Virginia |
8+ years in front seat; 8 through 17 years in all seats< |
$25 |
Yes |
| Wisconsin |
8+ years in all seats |
$10 |
Yes |
| Wyoming |
9+ years in all seats |
$258 |
No |
1. Arkansas rewards belt use by reducing the fine for the primary violation by $10.
2. This state assesses points for violations.
3. In Georgia, the maximum fine is $25 if the child is 6-18 years.
4. Drivers in Massachusetts may be fined $25 for violating the belt law themselves and $25 for each unrestrained passenger 12-16 years.
5. New York only assesses points when the violation involves a child under 16.
6. Police are prohibited in South Carolina from enforcing safety belt laws at checkpoints designed for that purpose. However, safety belt violations may be issued at license and registration checkpoints to drivers cited for other offenses.
7. Drivers 18 and older in Tennessee who choose not to contest the citation pay a $10 fine by mail; $20 for drivers who are 16 and 17 years old.
8. Wyoming rewards belt use by reducing the fine for the primary violation by $10o
