Seatbelt laws in the United States vary significantly by state and territory, impacting enforcement, age requirements, and penalties. Here’s an overview of each state’s seatbelt laws based on the latest information:
Alabama
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in front seats
Penalty: $25
Usage Rate: 92.9%
Alaska
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in all seats
Penalty: $15
Usage Rate: 90.6%
Arizona
Enforcement: Secondary for adults, Primary for children under 5
Requirements: Age 5+ in front seats; children under 5 in all seats
Penalty: $10
Usage Rate: 90.2%
Arkansas
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in front seats
Penalty: $25
Usage Rate: 84.9%
California
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in all seats
Penalty: $20 for first offense, additional court fees apply
Usage Rate: 95.9%
Colorado
Enforcement: Secondary for adults, Primary for children under 16
Requirements: Age 16+ in front seats; children under 16 in all seats
Penalty: $65
Usage Rate: 86.3%
Connecticut
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in all seats
Penalty: $50
Usage Rate: 93.7%
Delaware
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in all seats
Penalty: $83.50
Usage Rate: 92.5%
Florida
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in front seats; children under 18 in all seats
Penalty: $30
Usage Rate: 90.6%
Georgia
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in all seats
Penalty: $15 for front seat
Usage Rate: 97.1%
Hawaii
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in all seats
Penalty: $45
Usage Rate: 97.3%
Idaho
Enforcement: Secondary for adults, Primary for children under 18
Requirements: Age 18+ in front seats; children under 18 in all seats
Penalty: $10
Usage Rate: 81.7%
Illinois
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in all seats
Penalty: $25
Usage Rate: 93.1%
Indiana
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in all seats
Penalty: $25
Usage Rate: 93.4%
Iowa
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: Age 18+ in front seats; children under 18 in all seats
Penalty: $25
Usage Rate: 93.9%
Kansas
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in front seats; children under 18 in all seats
Penalty: $30
Usage Rate: 86.0%
Kentucky
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: Age 7+ in all seats
Penalty: $25
Usage Rate: 89.9%
Louisiana
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in all seats
Penalty: $50
Usage Rate: 87.1%
Maine
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in all seats
Penalty: $50
Usage Rate: 89.5%
Maryland
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in all seats
Penalty: $83
Usage Rate: 90.9%
Massachusetts
Enforcement: Secondary
Requirements: Age 13+ in all seats
Penalty: $25
Usage Rate: 81.6%
Michigan
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in all seats
Penalty: $25
Usage Rate: 94.4%
Minnesota
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in all seats
Penalty: $25
Usage Rate: 92.4%
Mississippi
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in front seats
Penalty: $25
Usage Rate: 78.3%
Missouri
Enforcement: Secondary for adults, Primary for children under 16
Requirements: Age 16+ in front seats; children under 16 in all seats
Penalty: $10
Usage Rate: 86.2%
Montana
Enforcement: Secondary
Requirements: Age 6+ in all seats
Penalty: $20
Usage Rate: 80.3%
Nebraska
Enforcement: Secondary
Requirements: Age 18+ in front seats; children under 18 in all seats
Penalty: $25
Usage Rate: 84.0%
Nevada
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in all seats
Penalty: $25
Usage Rate: 91.8%
New Hampshire
Enforcement: No adult seat belt law; Primary for children
Requirements: None for adults; children under 18 in all seats
Penalty: $50
Usage Rate: 68.5%
New Jersey
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in all seats
Penalty: $46
Usage Rate: 90.1%
New Mexico
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in all seats
Penalty: $25
Usage Rate: 89.0%
New York
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in all seats
Penalty: $50
Usage Rate: 93.6%
North Carolina
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in all seats
Penalty: $25
Usage Rate: 89.8%
North Dakota
Enforcement: Secondary for adults, Primary for children under 18
Requirements: Age 18+ in front seats; children under 18 in all seats
Penalty: $20
Usage Rate: 79.3%
Ohio
Enforcement: Secondary
Requirements: Age 15+ in front seat; children under 15 in all seats
Penalty: $30 for driver, $20 for passenger
Usage Rate: 82.8%
Oklahoma
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: Age 13+ in front seats
Penalty: $20
Usage Rate: 86.9%
Oregon
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in all seats
Penalty: $130
Usage Rate: 96.8%
Pennsylvania
Enforcement: Secondary for adults, Primary for children under 18
Requirements: Age 18+ in front seats; children under 18 in all seats
Penalty: $10
Usage Rate: 85.6%
Rhode Island
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: Age 8+ in all seats
Penalty: $75
Usage Rate: 88.3%
South Carolina
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: Age 6+ in all seats
Penalty: $25
Usage Rate: 92.3%
South Dakota
Enforcement: Secondary
Requirements: Age 18+ in front seats
Penalty: $25
Usage Rate: 74.8%
Tennessee
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: Age 16+ in front seats
Penalty: $25
Usage Rate: 88.5%
Texas
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in all seats
Penalty: $200 for drivers with unbelted passengers under 17; $50 for passengers over 15
Usage Rate: 91.9%
Utah
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in all seats
Penalty: $45
Usage Rate: 88.8%
Vermont
Enforcement: Secondary for adults, Primary for children under 18
Requirements: All ages in all seats
Penalty: $25
Usage Rate: 84.5%
Virginia
Enforcement: Secondary for adults, Primary for children under 18
Requirements: All drivers; age 18+ in front seats; children under 18 in all seats
Penalty: $25
Usage Rate: 85.3%
Washington
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: Age 8+ in all seats
Penalty: $124
Usage Rate: 94.8%
West Virginia
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: All ages in front seats; age 8-17 in rear seats
Penalty: $25
Usage Rate: 89.7%
Wisconsin
Enforcement: Primary
Requirements: Age 8+ in all seats
Penalty: $10
Usage Rate: 89.4%
Wyoming
Enforcement: Secondary
Requirements: Age 9+ in all seats
Penalty: $25 for driver, $10 for passenger
Usage Rate: 84.8%
Seatbelt usage in the United States averages 89.7%, with primary enforcement generally associated with higher usage rates compared to secondary enforcement. For specific details on other territories like Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, refer to their respective traffic safety regulations.
