Seat Belt Laws By State

When Were Seatbelts Mandated?

Seat belts were first mandated in the United States with the passage of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, which set the stage for seat belt regulations. However, it wasn't until 1968 that federal standards required all new cars to be equipped with seat belts. The push for mandatory seat belt use gained momentum in the 1980s, with many states beginning to pass laws requiring drivers and passengers to buckle up. By the mid-1990s, most states had enacted seat belt laws, though enforcement and requirements varied. The widespread adoption of primary seat belt laws, which allow law enforcement to stop and ticket drivers solely for not wearing a seat belt, has significantly increased over the years, contributing to improved road safety.

Do You Have to Wear a Seatbelt in The Back Seat?

In the U.S., seat belt laws for backseat passengers vary by state. As of now, 31 states and the District of Columbia require all passengers, including those in the back seat, to wear seatbelts. These states include California, New York, Texas, and Florida, among others. However, in 19 states, back seat passengers are not legally required to wear seatbelts, though it is still strongly recommended for safety. It’s important to check the specific seat belt laws in your state to ensure compliance and protect everyone in the vehicle.

Alabama

In Alabama, the seat belt laws state that everyone must wear a seatbelt while driving in a motor vehicle. Whether the passengers are in the front or back doesn't matter. The old law stated that only minors needed to be buckled in the back seats of a vehicle, but they have recently changed to require everyone to wear a seatbelt.

Alaska

In Alaska, seatbelt laws state that every vehicle passenger must wear a seatbelt. The driver is legally responsible for anyone under 16, and anyone over 16 is responsible for themselves. All child safety and restraint laws must be met as well.

Arizona

According to Arizona state law, any passenger under 16 must wear a seat belt in any area of the vehicle. Passengers over 16 are only required to wear a belt up front. Passengers under 16 are the driver's responsibility and are responsible for their own safety when over 16.

Arkansas

In Arkansas, all front passengers must be buckled. Anyone under 15 years old must be buckled properly. Anyone under six years old or under 50 pounds must be in a child safety seat.

California

In California, every passenger must wear a seatbelt no matter where they sit. Any child under nine years of age or 4'9" tall must also be secured in the proper child safety seat.

Colorado

Colorado requires all minors under 18 years old to wear a seatbelt in all positions of a vehicle. Everyone must wear a seatbelt up front, but adults can skip the seatbelt in the back seat without a legal penalty.

Connecticut

In Connecticut, all vehicle passengers must wear seatbelts wherever they ride. The fine for not wearing a seat belt is approximately $100.

Delaware

The seatbelt laws in Delaware state that anyone in a moving vehicle must wear a seatbelt, front or back. The fine for not wearing a seat belt is around $100.

Washington DC

Washington, D.C. has backseat seatbelt laws and requires everyone to wear a seat belt at all times, regardless of their age or position in the vehicle.

Florida

In Florida, seat belts are required by every passenger in a vehicle unless a doctor's note states otherwise. Rear-seat passengers are not required to wear seat belts unless they are under 18. The fine for not wearing a seat belt is approximately $30.

Georgia

In Georgia, everyone under 18 must wear a seatbelt no matter what. Passengers under eight must be in the proper child safety seat. If you are over 18, you can avoid seatbelts in the rear seats but must wear them up front.

Hawaii

Hawaii is another state with a backseat seatbelt law. Everyone must buckle at all times, no matter their age or seat in a vehicle, and children must be in the appropriate child safety seats.

Idaho

Everyone is required to wear a seatbelt at all times. Adults over 18 will receive an individual ticket, and the driver will be ticketed for anyone under 18.

Illinois

The seat belt law in this state says that everyone must be buckled at all times. Children under eight must be in special child safety restraints.

Indiana

All riders must wear seatbelts. The driver is responsible for anyone under 16, and everyone over 16 is responsible for themselves.

Iowa

Everyone under 18 must wear a seatbelt in all areas of a vehicle. If you are over 18, seat belts are not required in the back seats.

Kansas

In Kansas, seatbelts are required at all times by anyone under 18. Passengers under 14 are the driver's responsibility and can be ticketed themselves if they are over 14. Passengers over 18 aren't required to buckle in the rear seats.

Kentucky

Everyone must wear a seatbelt regardless of age or location in the vehicle. Passengers who are 12 and under should remain in the vehicle's rear seats.

Louisiana

Everyone in a moving vehicle must be buckled at all times. The fine for not being buckled is $50.

Maine

All riders must buckle up, and those under 12 should remain in the back of the vehicle. This law applies to both the front and back seats.

Maryland

All passengers must wear seatbelts in all the seats in Maryland. The fine for not wearing a seat belt is $50 per unbuckled occupant.

Massachusetts

Every rider must wear a seatbelt regardless of where they sit. The fine for not wearing a seat belt in Massachusetts is $25 per unbuckled occupant.

Minnesota

Everyone must buckle up in all positions in a vehicle. Children must be in proper child restraints. In Minnesota, the fine for not wearing a seatbelt is $25.

Mississippi

All vehicle passengers and drivers of all ages must wear a seatbelt in all locations. The fine for not wearing a seat belt in Mississippi is $25.

Missouri

Everyone must have a seatbelt on. Passengers under 16 are the driver's responsibility, and everyone else is responsible for themselves. The fine for not wearing a seat belt in Missouri is $10.

Montana

Everyone needs to have a seatbelt on in all positions. Passengers in the back seat are not required by law to wear a seat belt unless they are under 18 years old. The fine for not wearing a seat belt in Montana is $20.

Nebraska

Minors under 18 must wear a seatbelt in all positions, and adults over 18 must wear seatbelts in the front of the vehicle. The fine for not wearing a seat belt in Nebraska is $25.

Nevada

Each passenger in a vehicle must wear a seat belt at all times while moving. The fine for not wearing a seat belt in Nevada is $25.

New Hampshire

Passengers under 18 must remain buckled at all times, but no adult seat belt laws exist. Children under the age of 7 required to be in an appropriate child safety seat.

New Jersey

Each person in a moving vehicle must be buckled at all times. The fine for not wearing a seat belt in New Jersey is $46.

New Mexico

The passengers and the driver in a moving vehicle must be properly buckled. The fine for not wearing a seat belt in New Mexico is $25.

New York

Every rider and passengers must be buckled properly regardless of their seat position. This includes both front-seat and back-seat passengers. The fine for not wearing a seat belt in New York can be up to $50.

North Carolina

Everyone under 16 and above must wear a seat belt including those in the back seat. The fine for not wearing a seat belt in North Carolina is $25.50

North Dakota

Everyone under 18 must wear a seat belt in all positions. Adults 18 and over aren't required to buckle in the back seat by law. The fine for not wearing a seat belt in North Dakota is $20.

Ohio

Everyone under 15 is required by law to wear a seatbelt in all vehicle positions. When over 15, rear seat buckling isn't legally required. The fine for not wearing a seat belt in Ohio is $30 for drivers and $20 for front-seat passengers.

Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, any child under eight must be buckled in every position in a vehicle. Everyone must be buckled in the front seats, but anyone 9 and over isn't legally required to buckle in the rear seats.

Oregon

All passengers in a moving vehicle must be buckled at all times. Children under 8 must be in a properly fitted child safety seat. The fine for not wearing a seat belt is around $115.

Pennsylvania

Everyone younger than 18 must wear a seat belt in all positions. Passengers over 18 aren't legally required to buckle up in the back seats. The fine for not wearing a seat belt is approximately $75.

Rhode Island

Seat belts must be worn in every seat position of a vehicle in Rhode Island. Passengers under the age of eight must be in the proper child restraint. The fine for not wearing a seat belt is around $85.

South Carolina

Everyone in a vehicle must wear a seat belt when it's moving. Adults in the back seats are not exempt. Rear-seat passengers aged 16 and older are not required to wear seat belts. The fine for not wearing a seat belt is approximately $25.

South Dakota

In South Dakota, any passenger under 18 must wear a seat belt in all seat positions. Adults 18 and older are not required to wear a belt in the back seats by law. The fine for not wearing a seat belt is around $25.

Tennessee

All passengers in both front and back seats must wear seat belts. The fine for not wearing a seat belt is approximately $50.

Texas

All passengers must wear seat belts in moving vehicles at all times. Children under eight must be in child safety seats. Passengers in the rear seat are not required to wear seat belts unless they are under 17. The fine for not wearing a seat belt is approximately $200.

Utah

Children under eight must wear proper child restraints. Everyone in a vehicle, front or back, must wear a seat belt at all times. The fine for not wearing a seat belt is around $45.

Vermont

All passengers and the driver must be buckled at all times, front and back. The fine for not wearing a seat belt is approximately $25.

Virginia

All drivers under 18 must be buckled in all positions. Adults over 18 can be unbuckled in the back without being in violation of the law. Rear-seat passengers aged 18 and older are also required to wear seat belts. The fine for not wearing a seat belt is approximately $25.

Washington

Both the driver and the passengers must wear a seat belt, and children under 13 should sit in the back. Children under eight require child safety restraints. The fine for not wearing a seat belt is around $124.

West Virginia

All front-seat passengers must wear seat belts. Adults 16 and over don't need seatbelts in the back seats by law. The fine for not wearing a seat belt is approximately $25.

Wisconsin

The seat belt law in this state says that everyone in a moving motor vehicle must wear a safety belt regardless of their sitting position. The fine for not wearing a seat belt is approximately $10.

Wyoming

All the passengers and the driver must wear a seat belt in any position while moving. Rear-seat passengers are not required to wear seat belts. The fine for not wearing a seat belt is around $10.

Nearly all the states with seat belt laws have slightly different requirements for their residents. You should take time to learn the specifics of your state and the states you travel through to avoid any problems while driving.