Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
15 and over
In What Seat?
Front (secondary enforcement in rear seat)
Seat Belts
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.
- 35 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have primary seat belt laws for front seat occupants.
- 15 states have secondary laws for adult front seat occupants.
- 39 states, D.C., and 2 territories have laws enforcing rear seat belt use. Of these:
- 20 states, D.C. and 2 territories have primary enforcement for all occupants.
- 5 states have primary enforcement for youth.
- 11 states include rear seats as secondary enforcement. Three of these are states with primary seat belt laws for front seat occupants. Six are states with secondary laws for adult front seat occupants.
- 10 states do not have laws enforcing rear seat belt use.
- Of states with primary front seat belt use laws, 11 states and the Virgin Islands do not include rear seats
- Of states with secondary front seat belt use laws, 9 states do not include rear seats.
- New Hampshire has enacted neither a primary nor a secondary seat belt law for adults in any seat, 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 page 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.
A PDF chart of state seat belt laws is available for download here.
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.
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.
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Alabama
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Alaska
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
16 and over
In What Seat?
All
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American Samoa
No data
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Arizona
Type of Law
Secondary
Who Is Covered?
8 and over
In What Seat?
8-15 yrs: All
8 and over: Front
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Arkansas
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
15 and over
In What Seat?
Front
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California
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
16 and over
In What Seat?
All
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Colorado
Type of Law
Secondary
Who Is Covered?
16 and over (primary law for under 18)
In What Seat?
Front
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Connecticut
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
8 and over
In What Seat?
Front
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Delaware
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
16 and over
In What Seat?
All
*Note: Delaware's seat belt law is a civil penalty
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District of Columbia
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
16 and over
In What Seat?
All
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Florida
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
6 and over
In What Seat?
6-17 yrs: All
6 and over: Front
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Georgia
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
8 and older
In What Seat?
8-17 yrs: All
18 and over: Front
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Guam
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
All riders
In What Seat?
All
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Hawaii
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
8 and over
In What Seat?
All
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Idaho
Type of Law
Secondary
Who Is Covered?
7 and over (primary law for drivers under 18)
In What Seat?
All
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Illinois
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
16 and over
In What Seat?
All
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Indiana
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
16 and over
In What Seat?
All
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Iowa
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
All riders
In What Seat?
Front
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Kansas
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
14 and over
In What Seat?
14-17 yrs: All
18 and over: Front (other seating positions are secondary enforcement)
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Kentucky
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
7 and under and more than 57 inches
8 and over
In What Seat?
All
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Louisiana
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
13 and over
In What Seat?
All
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Maine
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
18 and over
In What Seat?
All
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Maryland
Type of Law
Primary; Secondary for rear seat occupants
Who Is Covered?
16 and over
In What Seat?
Under 16 yrs: All
16 yrs and over: Front (secondary enforcement in rear seat) -
Massachusetts
Type of Law
Secondary
Who Is Covered?
13 and over
In What Seat?
All
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Michigan
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
16 and over
In What Seat?
Front
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Minnesota
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
7 and younger and over 57 inches
8 and over
In What Seat?
All
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Mississippi
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
7 and over
In What Seat?
All
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Missouri
Type of Law
Secondary; Primary for riders ages 8 through 15
Who Is Covered?
8 and over
In What Seat?
8-15 yrs: All (primary enforcement)
16 and over: Front
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Montana
Type of Law
Secondary
Who Is Covered?
6 and over
In What Seat?
All
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Nebraska
Type of Law
Secondary
Who Is Covered?
18 and over
In What Seat?
Front
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Nevada
Type of Law
Secondary
Who Is Covered?
6 and over
In What Seat?
All
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New Hampshire
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.
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New Jersey
Type of Law
Primary; Secondary for rear seat occupants
Who Is Covered?
7 and under and more than 57 inches tall
8 and over
In What Seat?
All
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New Mexico
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
18 and over
In What Seat?
All
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New York
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
All riders
In What Seat?
All (eff. 11/1/20)
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North Carolina
Type of Law
Primary; Secondary for rear seat occupants
Who Is Covered?
16 and over
In What Seat?
All
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North Dakota
Type of Law
Secondary; Primary for occupants under 18
Who Is Covered?
18 and over
In What Seat?
18 and over: Front
Under 18: All
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Northern Mariana Islands
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
Over 6
In What Seat?
All
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Ohio
Type of Law
Secondary
Who Is Covered?
8 and over
In What Seat?
8-14 yrs: All (primary enforcement)
15 and over: Front
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Oklahoma
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
13 and over
In What Seat?
Front
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Oregon
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
All riders
In What Seat?
All
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Pennsylvania
Type of Law
Secondary; Primary for occupants ages 8-17
Who Is Covered?
8 and over
In What Seat?
8-17 yrs: All (primary enforcement)
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Puerto Rico
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
9 and over or 57" and over
In What Seat?
n/a
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Rhode Island
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
8 and over
In What Seat?
All
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South Carolina
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
8 and over
In What Seat?
All
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South Dakota
Type of Law
Secondary
Who Is Covered?
18 and over
In What Seat?
Front
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Tennessee
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
16 and over
In What Seat?
Front
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Texas
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
7 and under who are over 57"
8 and over
In What Seat?
All
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Utah
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
Drivers and passengers over 16
In What Seat?
All
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Vermont
Type of Law
Secondary; Primary for occupants under 18
Who Is Covered?
18 and over
In What Seat?
All
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Virgin Islands
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
All riders
In What Seat?
Front
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Virginia
Type of Law
Secondary; Primary for occupants under 18
Who Is Covered?
All drivers; passengers 18 and over
In What Seat?
Front
Under 18: All (primary enforcement)
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Washington
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
Over 16 or over 4'9"
In What Seat?
All
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West Virginia
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
8 and over
In What Seat?
8-17 yrs: Front
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Wisconsin
Type of Law
Primary
Who Is Covered?
8 and over
In What Seat?
All
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Wyoming
Type of Law
Secondary
Who Is Covered?
9 and over
In What Seat?
All