Seat Belt Laws by State 2024

Why Are Seat Belts Important?

Seat belts save lives. Seat belts prevent drivers and passengers from being ejected from a vehicle or hitting the interior of a vehicle during a vehicle accident. When seat belts are worn properly, they are designed to spread crash forces across stronger parts of the body, such as the shoulder, rib cage, and pelvis.

For drivers and front-seat passengers, using a lap and shoulder belt reduces the risk of fatal injury by 60% in an SUV, van, or pickup truck and by 45% in a car. Occupants in a vehicle increase the risk of injury or death to other occupants in the vehicle by 40%.

Seat belts save an estimated 15,000 lives each year and could have saved an additional estimated 2,500 lives if everyone correctly used their seat belt. Nearly half of the people who die in vehicle crashes are not wearing seat belts.

Seat belt laws increase seat belt use. Seat belt laws are created to protect the lives of drivers and their passengers.

Primary vs. Secondary Enforcement

In all 50 states except New Hampshire, failure to wear a seat belt is a misdemeanor. In 34 of those states and the District of Columbia, a driver can be pulled over just for not wearing a seatbelt. This is primary enforcement.

The other 15 states with seat belt laws have secondary enforcement, meaning that if a driver gets pulled over for something else, he/she can also get in trouble for not wearing a seat belt. The driver cannot be pulled over by law enforcement and cited solely for not wearing a seat belt in secondary enforcement states, the motorist must be pulled over for another violation first.

Alabama

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 15 and over in all seats
  • Base fine: $25

Alaska

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 16 and over in all seats
  • Base fine: $15 ($25 actual)

Arizona

  • Secondary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 8 and over in front seats; ages 8 to 15 in all seats
  • Base fine: $10 ($37.20 actual)

Arkansas

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 15 and over in front seats
  • Base fine: $25

California

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 16 and over in all seats
  • Base fine: $20 ($162 actual), $50 for a second offense ($190 actual)

Colorado

  • Secondary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 16 and over in front seats
  • Primary enforcement for those under 18 years of age
  • Base fine: $71

Connecticut

  • Primary Enforcement
  • Applies to ages 8 and over in seats
  • Base fine: $92 for drivers and passengers over 18, $120 for drivers and passengers under 18

Delaware

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 16 and over in all seats
  • Base fine: $25

District of Columbia

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 16 and over in all seats
  • Base fine: $50

Florida

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 6 and over in the front seat; 6-17 in all seats
  • Base fine: $30 ($116 actual)

Georgia

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 8-17 in all seats; 18+ in front seat
  • Base fine: $15

Hawaii

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to age 8 and over in all seats
  • Base fine: $45 ($112 actual)

Idaho

  • Secondary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 7 and over in all seats
  • Primary enforcement for drivers under the age of 18
  • Base fine: $10 ($51.50 for drivers under 18)

Illinois

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 16 and over in all seats
  • Base fine: $25 minimum

Indiana

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 16 and over in all seats
  • Base fine: $25

Iowa

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to all ages in front seats
  • Base fine: $25 ($127.50 actual)

Kansas

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 14-17 in all seats, and to those over 18 in front seats
  • Base fine: $30

Kentucky

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 7 and younger and more than 57 inches tall in all seats; 8 and over in all seats
  • Base fine: $25

Louisiana

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 13 and over in all seats
  • Base fine: $50

Maine

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 18 and over in all seats
  • Base fine: $50

Maryland

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 16 and under in all seats, over 16 in the front seat
  • Secondary enforcement for ages 16 and up in the rear seats
  • Base fine: $83

Massachusetts

  • Secondary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 13 and over in all seats
  • Base fine: $25

Michigan

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 16 and over in front seats
  • Base fine: $25 ($65 actual)

Minnesota

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 7 and younger and more than 57 inches in all seats; 8 and over in all seats
  • Base fine: $25 + $75 fee

Mississippi

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 7 and over in all seats
  • Base fine: $25

Missouri

  • Secondary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 16 and over in front seats; ages 8-15 in all seats
  • Base fine: $10 for ages 16 and over; $50 for ages 8-15

Montana

  • Secondary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 6 and over in all seats
  • Base fine: $20

Nebraska

  • Secondary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 18 and over in fronts seats
  • Base fine: $25

Nevada

  • Secondary enforcement
  • Ages 6 and over in all seats
  • Base fine: $25

New Hampshire

  • No enforcement for adults; primary enforcement for minors only
  • Applies to ages 17 and under in all seats
  • Base fine: $50

New Jersey

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 7 and younger and more than 57 inches in all seats; 8 and over in all seats
  • Secondary enforcement in the rear seat
  • Base fine: $46

New Mexico

  • Primary enforcement
  • Ages 18 and older in all seats
  • Base fine: $25

New York

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to all riders in all seats
  • Base fine: $50 ($135 actual)

North Carolina

  • Primary enforcement; secondary for backseat
  • Applies to ages 16 and over in all seats
  • Base fine: $179 for the front seat; $10 for the rear seat

North Dakota

  • Secondary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 18 and over in front seats; under 18 in all seats
  • Base fine; $20 for ages 18 and over; $25 + 1 point on license for under 18

Ohio

  • Secondary enforcement
  • Ages 15 and over in front seat; 8-14 in all seats
  • Base fine: $30 for the driver; $20 for the passenger

Oklahoma

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 13 and over in fronts seats
  • Base fine: $20

Oregon

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to all ages in all seats
  • Base fine: $115

Pennsylvania

  • Secondary enforcement
  • Ages 18 and over in front seats; ages 8-17 in all seats
  • Base fine: $10

Rhode Island

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 8 and over in all seats
  • Base fine: $40

South Carolina

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 8 and over in all seats
  • Base fine: $25

South Dakota

  • Secondary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 18 and over in front seats
  • Base fine: $25

Tennessee

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 16 and over in front seats
  • Base fine: $30

Texas

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 7 and under and 57 inches and taller in all seats; ages 8 and over in all seats
  • Base fine: $200 if under 17 (driver); $50 if over (any person in the car)

Utah

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 16 and over in all seats
  • Base fine: $45 for a second offense

Vermont

  • Secondary enforcement (primary enforcement for those under 18)
  • Applies to all ages in all seats
  • Base fine: $25

Virginia

  • Secondary enforcement (primary enforcement for those under 18)
  • Applies to all drivers; ages 18 and over in front seats; under 18 in all seats
  • Base fine: $25

Washington

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 16 and over and at least 4’9" in all seats
  • Base fine: $124

West Virginia

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 8-17 in front seats
  • Base fine: $25

Wisconsin

  • Primary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 8 and over in all seats
  • Base fine: $10

Wyoming

  • Secondary enforcement
  • Applies to ages 9 and over in all seats
  • Base fine: $25 for the driver, $10 for the passenger

Seat Belt Laws by State 2024

Notes:
- Primary enforcement seat belt laws allow law enforcement officers to stop vehicles if a driver or passenger is not wearing a seat belt.
- Secondary enforcement seat belt laws require law enforcement officers to have some other reason for stopping a vehicle before citing a driver or passenger for not using a seat belt.
- New Hampshire has enacted neither a primary nor a secondary seat belt law for adults, although the state does have a primary child passenger safety law that covers all drivers and passengers under 18.

Download Table Data

Enter your email below, and you'll receive this table's data in your inbox momentarily.

State
Laws Type
Ages Covered
Seats Covered
MissouriSecondary; Primary for riders ages 8 through 158 and overFront: 16 and over All: 8-15
OhioSecondary; Primary for riders ages 8 through 148 and overFront: 15 and over All: 8-14 (primary enforcement)
North DakotaSecondary; Primary for occupants under 1818 and overFront: 18 and over All: Under 18
VermontSecondary; Primary for occupants under 1818 and overAll
VirginiaSecondary; Primary for occupants under 18All drivers; passengers 18 and overFront Under 18: All (primary enforcement)
PennsylvaniaSecondary; Primary for occupants ages 8-178 and overAll 8-17 yrs: (primary enforcement)
ArizonaSecondary8 and overFront: 8 and up, All: 8-15
ColoradoSecondary16 and over (primary law for under 18)Front
IdahoSecondary7 and over (primary law for drivers under 18)All
MassachusettsSecondary13 and overAll
MontanaSecondary6 and overAll
NebraskaSecondary18 and overFront
NevadaSecondary6 and overAll
South DakotaSecondary18 and overFront
WyomingSecondary9 and overAll
KansasPrimary; Secondary for rear seat occupants14 and overFront: 18 and over All: 14-17 yrs
MarylandPrimary; Secondary for rear seat occupants16 and overFront: 16 yrs and over All: Under 16 yrs
New JerseyPrimary; Secondary for rear seat occupants7 and under and more than 57 inches tall 8 and overAll
North CarolinaPrimary; Secondary for rear seat occupants16 and overAll
DelawarePrimary (Civil Penalty)16 and overAll
AlabamaPrimary15 and overAll
AlaskaPrimary16 and overAll
ArkansasPrimary15 and overFront
CaliforniaPrimary16 and overAll
ConnecticutPrimary8 and overAll
District of ColumbiaPrimary16 and overAll
FloridaPrimary6 and overFront: 6 and up, All: 6-17
GeorgiaPrimary8 and overFront: 18 and up, All: 8-17
HawaiiPrimaryAll ridersAll
IllinoisPrimary16 and overAll
IndianaPrimary16 and overAll
IowaPrimaryAll ridersFront
KentuckyPrimary7 and under and more than 57 inches 8 and overAll
LouisianaPrimary13 and overAll
MainePrimaryAll ridersAll
MichiganPrimary16 and overFront
MinnesotaPrimary7 and younger and over 57 inches 8 and overAll
MississippiPrimary7 and overAll
New MexicoPrimary18 and overAll
New YorkPrimaryAll ridersAll
OklahomaPrimary13 and overFront
OregonPrimaryAll ridersAll
Rhode IslandPrimary9 and over or 57" and over-
South CarolinaPrimary8 and overAll
TennesseePrimary16 and overFront
TexasPrimary7 and under who are over 57" 8 and overAll
UtahPrimaryDrivers and passengers over 16All
WashingtonPrimaryOver 16 or over 4'9"All
West VirginiaPrimary8 and overFront: 8-17 yrs
WisconsinPrimary8 and overAll
New HampshireNeithern/an/a
showing: 51 rows

Seat Belt Laws by State 2024

Sources