But just because you should wear your seat belt, does that mean you have to? It depends on where you are driving. Below we provide the state seat belt laws for all 50 states.

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What Are State Laws for Seat Belts?

Seat belt laws vary by state. However, the laws can generally be divided into the following two categories:

• Primary enforcement
• Secondary enforcement

Primary enforcement laws allow a police officer to stop and cite a motorist solely for not using a seat belt. Secondary enforcement laws allow a police officer to enforce the seat belt law, but only if the motorist has been pulled over for another violation first.

All states, except New Hampshire, require adult front seat occupants to use seat belts. New Hampshire has no seat belt law that covers drivers or passengers 18 and older. Not all states require adult rear-seat passengers to wear seat belts.

Please note, that separate laws apply to children and also vary by state. Child restraint laws are not discussed below.

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States with Primary Enforcement Laws

The following states have primary enforcement laws for seat belts. A police officer in the following states can stop and cite a motorist for not wearing a seat belt.

Alabama

In Alabama, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and passengers aged 15 and older in all seats. Seat belt laws are primary for drivers and front-seat passengers and secondary for rear-seat passengers.

Alaska

In Alaska, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and passengers aged 16 and older in all seats.

Arkansas

In Arkansas, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and front seat passengers aged 15 and older.

California

In California, seat belt laws apply to drivers and passengers aged 16 and older in all seats.

Connecticut

In Connecticut, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and front seat passengers aged 8 and older.

Delaware

In Delaware, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and passengers aged 16 and older in all seats.

Florida

In Florida, the seat belt laws apply to drivers, front seat passengers aged 6 and older, and passengers 6 to 17 years old. The laws apply to all seats.

Georgia

In Georgia, the seat belt laws apply to drivers, front seat passengers aged 18 and older, and passengers aged 8 to 17.

Hawaii

In Hawaii, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and passengers aged 8 and older in all seats.

Illinois

In Illinois, seat belt laws apply to drivers and passengers aged 16 and older in all seats.

Indiana

In Indiana, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and passengers aged 16 and older in all seats.

Iowa

In Iowa, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and front seat passengers aged 18 and older.

Kansas

In Kansas, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and passengers aged 14 and older in all seats. Seat belt laws are primary for drivers and front-seat passengers and secondary for rear-seat passengers.

Kentucky

In Kentucky, the seat belt laws apply to drivers, passengers aged 8 and older, and younger passengers taller than 57 inches, in all seats.

Louisiana

In Louisiana, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and passengers aged 13 and older in all seats.

Maine

In Maine, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and passengers aged 18 and older in all seats.

Maryland

In Maryland, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and passengers aged 16 and older in all seats. Seat belt laws are primary for drivers and front-seat passengers and secondary for rear-seat passengers.

Michigan

In Michigan, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and front seat passengers aged 16 and older.

Minnesota

In Minnesota, seat belt laws apply to drivers, passengers aged 8 and older, and younger passengers who are more than 57 inches tall. The laws apply to all seats. Drivers will be ticketed for unbelted passengers ages 14 and younger. Unbelted passengers aged 15 and older will be ticketed directly.

Mississippi

In Mississippi, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and passengers aged 7 and older in all seats.

New Jersey

In New Jersey, the seat belt laws apply to drivers, passengers aged 8 and older, and younger passengers who are more than 57 inches tall, in all seats. Seat belt laws are primary for drivers and front-seat passengers and secondary for rear-seat passengers.

New Mexico

In New Mexico, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and passengers aged 18 and older in all seats.

New York

In New York, the universal seat belt laws apply to drivers and all passengers.

North Carolina

In North Carolina, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and passengers aged 16 and older in all seats. Seat belt laws are primary for drivers and front-seat passengers and secondary for rear-seat passengers.

Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and front seat passengers aged 9 and older.

Oregon

In Oregon, all motor vehicle operators and passengers must be properly secured with a safety belt or safety harness. Unless all safety-belt-equipped seating positions are occupied by other persons.

Rhode Island

In Rhode Island, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and passengers aged 8 and older in all seats.

South Carolina

In South Carolina, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and passengers aged 8 and older in all seats.

Tennessee

In Tennessee, all drivers and front-seat passengers must have a seat belt properly fastened about their bodies at all times when the vehicle is in a forward motion.

Texas

In Texas, the seat belt laws apply to drivers, passengers aged 8 and older, and younger passengers who are more than 57 inches tall, in all seats.

Utah

In Utah, all passengers must wear seat belts in all seating positions.

Washington

In Washington, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and passengers aged 16 and older in all seats.

West Virginia

In West Virginia, the seat belt laws apply to drivers, front seat passengers aged 8 and older, and passengers aged 8 to 17, in all seats.

Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and passengers aged 8 and older in all seats.

States with Secondary Enforcement Laws

The following states have secondary enforcement laws for seat belts. A police officer can only ticket an unbelted motorist if the motorist is stopped for another reason.

Arizona

In Arizona, the seat belt laws apply to drivers, front seat passengers aged 8 and older, and passengers aged 8 to 15 in all seats.

Colorado

In Colorado, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and front seat passengers aged 16 and older.

Idaho

In Idaho, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and passengers aged 7 and older in all seats.

Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and passengers aged 13 and older in all seats.

Missouri

In Missouri, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and front seat passengers aged 16 and older.

Montana

In Montana, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and passengers aged 6 and older in all seats.

Nebraska

In Nebraska, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and front seat passengers aged 18 and older.

Nevada

In Nevada, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and passengers aged 6 and older in all seats.

North Dakota

In North Dakota, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and front seat passengers aged 18 and older.

Ohio

In Ohio, the seat belt laws apply to drivers, front seat passengers aged 15 and older, and passengers aged 8 to 14 in all seats.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s seat belt law requires drivers and passengers 18 years and older to wear a seat belt when behind the wheel or in the front passenger seat.

South Dakota

In South Dakota, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and front seat passengers aged 18 and older.

Vermont

In Vermont, everyone in the vehicle, including backseat passengers and children, must wear seat belts properly.

Virginia

In Virginia, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and front seat passengers aged 18 and older.

Wyoming

In Wyoming, the seat belt laws apply to drivers and passengers aged 9 and older in all seats.

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