Pennsylvania May Change Seat Belt Law

February 2009

Pennsylvania may tighten its seat belt law. Along with 14 other states, PA might make not wearing a seat belt a primary offense, giving law enforcement the ability to pull drivers over for seat belt violations alone.

Current Pennsylvania law states that an officer can only issue a seat belt violation if a motorist is stopped for another offense first. Right now, 26 states and the District of Columbia have primary seat-belt enforcement laws.

The change would have to be made by July in order for the state to be eligible for millions of dollars in federal money. The funds allocated to seat belt enforcement can be only be spent on highway projects.