seat belt laws

[Lyndon S.]

[Terry D.]

Re: seat belt laws

Kelly

I would not take anyones word on that, call the Texas Bureau of Motor Vehicles or go on their web site to get the answer.
Terry

[Lyndon S.]

Re: seat belt laws

I have went to the DPS web site and could not find anything on it so far. I will keep looking

[Terry D.]

Re: seat belt laws

Kelly

Don't they have a contact number? If not your local Highway Patrol would be your best bet.
Terry

[Gary C.]

Texas Occupant Restraint Laws defined safety belt

"Safety belt" means a lap belt and any shoulder straps included as original equipment on or added to a vehicle. If it's there in Texas, you'd better have it one as Texas leads in fatalities, particularly pickups and has an aggressive Buckle Up program - "Click it or ticket". Gary....

[Chuck R.]

Re: Yup, what Gary said

If the car is equiped with lap AND shoulder belts, you had better be using both of them.

Chuck

[Eric F.]

Re: seat belt laws

Kelly,

It really does depend on the individual state statutes/laws; I've provided two links. Washington state law requires the following pertaining to vehicles required to have seatbelts http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.37.510 and the follwing pertaining to occupant requirements to wear seatbelts http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.61.688

Being a motorcycle police officer I read a lot of the state statutes pertaining to motor vehicles and often find laws that conflict with federal requirements. For instance, Washington State law states:(4) Every passenger car manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1968, shall be equipped with at least two shoulder harness-type safety belt assemblies for use in the front seating positions.

The problem with that is 1975 Corvettes Coupes were manufactuered with shoulder belts as standard equipment but shoulder belts were an option in Convertibles; which I own. So technically each time my wife and I go for a drive we are in violation of the State law but in compliance with Federal Mandates at the time the car was manufactured.

So the moral of the story is know your state statutes/laws and if they contradict Federal Mandates/Regulations then make sure you have a copy of both documents with you and be prepared to present the information (politely) if necessary. Keep in mind an officer is not required to use your documents and is allowed to enforce the laws using the information provided by their agency.

Eric