Seat Belt Laws
Seat belt laws are divided into two categories: primary and secondary. Primary seat belt laws allow law enforcement officers to ticket a driver or passenger for not wearing a seat belt, without any other traffic offense taking place. Secondary seat belt laws state that law enforcement officers may issue a ticket for not wearing a seat belt only when there is another citable traffic infraction.
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33 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have primary seat belt laws for front seat occupants.
Learn More About Occupant Protection
- Rear Seats: In 16 of these states, D.C., Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, rear seats are also primary enforcement. In 4 of these states, rear seats are secondary. The remaining 13 and the Virgin Islands have no belt requirement for adults in rear seats.
- 16 states have secondary laws. In many of these states, the law is primary for younger drivers and/or passengers.
- Rear Seats: In 7 of these states, rear seats are also included. The remaining 10 have no belt requirements for adults in rear seats.
- 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.
Specific laws vary greatly from state to state, depending on the age of the rider and in what seat he or she is sitting. This chart covers seat belt laws for adults and young adults only. For requirements for infants, toddlers, and children, see GHSA's Child Passenger Safety Laws chart.
NOTE: GHSA does not compile any additional data on adult seat belt laws other than what is presented here. For more information, consult the appropriate State Highway Safety Office.
States with Primary Seat Belt Laws
| State | Who is Covered (Yrs.) | In What Seat | Maximum Fine 1st Offense |
| Alabama | >15 | Front | $25 |
| Alaska | >16 | All | $15 |
| American Samoa | No data | ||
| Arkansas | >15 | Front | $25 ($20 city & $20 county jail fines may be added) |
| California | >16 | All | $162 ($20 fine + $142 in penalties and assessments) |
| Connecticut | >7 | Front | $92 for >18 ($50 fine + $7 fee + $35 surcharge) $120 for <18 ($75 fine + $10 fee + $35 surcharge) |
| Delaware 1 | >16 | All | $25 |
| D.C. | >16 | All | $50 |
| Florida | >6 | Front | $30 |
| 6 - 17 | All | ||
| Georgia | 8 - 17 | All | $15 |
| >18 | Front | ||
| Guam | All | All | $100 |
| Hawaii | >8 | All | $92 (including administrative fees) |
| Illinois | <18, if driver <18 | All | $25 plus court costs |
| >16 | Front | ||
| Indiana | >16 | All | $25 |
| Iowa | All | Front | $25 |
| Kansas | 14 - 17 | All | $60 |
| >18 | Front (other seating positions are secondary enforcement) |
$10 | |
| Kentucky | <6 and >50" | All | $25 |
| >7 | |||
| Louisiana | >13 | All | $25 |
| Maine | >18 | All | $50 |
| Maryland | >16 | All (secondary for rear seats - eff. 10/1/13) |
$50 (eff. 10/1/13) |
| Michigan | >16 | Front | $25 |
| Minnesota | <7 (and >57") or >8 | All | $25, plus approx. $75 court surcharge (surcharge varies slightly by county) |
| Mississippi | >7 | Front | $25 |
| New Jersey | <7 and >80 lbs. | All (secondary for rear seats) |
$46 (including court costs) |
| >8 | |||
| New Mexico | >18 | All | $25 |
| New York | <16 | Rear | $50 |
| All | Front | ||
| North Carolina | >16 | All (secondary for rear seats) |
$25.50 + $135.50 in court costs ($10 + no court costs for rear seats) |
| Northern Mariana Islands | >6 | All | $25 |
| Oklahoma | >13 | Front | $20 |
| Oregon | >8 or 4'9" | All | $110 |
| Puerto Rico | >9 (or >57") | $50 | |
| Rhode Island | >18 | All | $85 |
| South Carolina | >6 | All | $25 |
| Tennessee | >16 | Front | $50 |
| Texas | >15 | All | $50 (driver or passenger) |
| <7 (and >57') - <17 | $200 (driver) | ||
| Virgin Islands | All | Front | $25 to $250 |
| Washington | >8 or >4'9" | All | $124 |
| West Virginia (eff. 7/1/13) |
8 - 17 | All | $25 |
| >18 | Front | ||
| Wisconsin | >8 | All | $10 |
| Total | 33 States + D.C., 5 Terr. | All (16 + D.C., 2 Terr.) Rear Secondary (4) Front Seat Only (13 + VI) |
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States with Secondary Seat Belt Laws
| State | Who is Covered (Yrs.) | In What Seat | Maximum Fine 1st Offense |
| Arizona | 8-15 | All | $10 |
| >8 | Front |
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| Colorado | >18 (primary for <18) | Front | $71 |
| Idaho | >7 | All | $10 (drivers <18 pay $51.50, including court costs) |
| Massachusetts | >13 | All | $25 |
| Missouri | 8 - 15 (primary) | All | $50 |
| >16 | Front | $10 (driver and passenger) | |
| Montana | >6 | All | $20 |
| Nebraska | >18 | Front | $25 |
| Nevada | >6 | All | $25 |
| North Dakota | >18 | Front | $20 |
| Ohio | 8 - 14 | All | $30 driver; $20 passenger |
| >15 | Front | ||
| Pennsylvania | 8 - 17 (primary) | All | $10 |
| >18 | Front | ||
| South Dakota | >18 | Front | $25 |
| Utah | >16 (primary for <19) | All | $45 |
| Vermont | >18 (primary for <18) | All | $25 |
| Virginia | All drivers; passengers
>18 (primary for passengers <18 in all seats) |
Front | $25 (driver ticketed for passengers <18) |
| Wyoming | >9 | All | $25 driver; $10 passenger |
| Total States | 16 States | All (7) Front Seat Only (9) |
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.