Seat Belts

 

    Save Lives

 

 

Buckle
Up

 

New Jersey's primary seatbelt law now authorizes police officers to stop and issue a motor vehicle summons to drivers and front seat passengers solely for not wearing their seatbelts!

 

 

 

 

 Why have a primary seat belt law:

•   Studies show seat belts do save lives
and reduce injuries during crashes.

•  More than 2,000 unbuckled drivers and front seat passengers died on New Jersey’s roadways in the past 10 years.

•  New Jersey’s seat belt use rate is below the national average.

The new primary seat belt law:

•   Does not increase the existing fine for
not wearing a seat belt.

•  Does not add points to a driver’s motor vehicle record.

•  Does not create a new surcharge or additional payment fees.

The new primary seat belt law:

• Applies to all passenger vehicles that are required to be equipped with seat belts.

•  Applies to drivers and front seat passengers.

•  Continues the existing requirement that the driver is responsible for seat belt use
by front seat passengers who are under the age of 18.

New Jersey’s child passenger law:

 The new law which took effect in December 2001, requires the following:

•  Children under 8 years old and weighing less than 80 pounds must be secured in the back seat of a motor vehicle in an approved booster seat using the lap and shoulder belt.

•  If there is no back seat (such as a pick up truck), the child must be secured in the front seat in the same manner as the back, with the seat pushed back as far as possible.

•  Children over 8 years of age and weighing more than 80 pounds are required to wear a seatbelt anywhere in a motor vehicle.

•  Children under 12 should ride in the back seat of a motor vehicle whenever possible