Seat Belt Laws by State

Edgar Snyder & Associates recommends that all drivers and passengers buckle up each and every time they are in a car. Wearing a seat belt can save your life or reduce injury if you are involved in an automobile accident. The United States has the lowest rate of seat belt usage in most of the developed world - only 75% of Americans buckle up. It has been estimated that nearly one-third of accident fatalities could be prevented if everyone wore a seat belt.

Individual states are encouraging the use of seat belt laws by passing laws that require their use. How the seat belt laws are enforced differ from state to state. Seat belt enforcements are either primary or secondary offenses.

Primary Offense: not wearing a seat belt is cause enough for a driver to be pulled over and ticketed.
Secondary Offense: a driver must be pulled over for another offense; however, if not wearing a seatbelt, a driver can be ticketed for this offense as well.

Seat Belt Law – Offense Level by State

State	Primary	Secondary	State	Primary	Secondary
Alabama	x		Montana		x
Alaska	x		Nebraska		x
Arizona		x	Nevada		x
Arkansas		x	New Hampshire	no law for adults
California	x		New Jersey	x
Colorado		x	New Mexico	x
Connecticut	x		New York	x
Delaware	x		North Carolina	x
District of Columbia	x		North Dakota		x
Florida		x	Ohio		x
Georgia	x		Oklahoma	x
Hawaii	x		Oregon	x
Idaho		x	Pennsylvania		x
Illinois	x		Rhode Island		x
Indiana	x		South Carolina	x
Iowa	x		South Dakota		x
Kansas		x	Tennessee	x
Kentucky	x		Texas	x
Louisiana	x		Utah		x
Maine	x		Vermont		x
Maryland	x		Virginia		x
Massachusetts		x	Washington	x
Michigan	x		West Virginia		x
Minnesota		x	Wisconsin		x
Mississippi	x		Wyoming		x
Missouri		x

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Source:
O'Donnell, Jayne. "U.S. pushes for wider seat belt use" USA Today. 20 May 2003. Pgs: 1A-2A.