S.B. 128

             1     

SAFETY BELT AMENDMENTS

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Luz Robles

             5     
House Sponsor: ____________

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Traffic Code by amending provisions relating to safety belt
             10      restraint requirements.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    provides that a state or local law enforcement officer may only enforce the safety
             14      belt restraint requirement as a secondary action on a highway with a posted speed
             15      limit of less than 55 miles per hour; and
             16          .    makes technical changes.
             17      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             18          None
             19      Other Special Clauses:
             20          None
             21      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             22      AMENDS:
             23           41-6a-1803 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 160
             24     
             25      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             26          Section 1. Section 41-6a-1803 is amended to read:
             27           41-6a-1803. Driver and passengers -- Safety belt or child restraint device


             28      required.
             29          (1) (a) The operator of a motor vehicle operated on a highway shall:
             30          (i) wear a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt;
             31          (ii) provide for the protection of each person younger than eight years of age by using a
             32      child restraint device to restrain each person in the manner prescribed by the manufacturer of
             33      the device; and
             34          (iii) provide for the protection of each person eight years of age up to 16 years of age
             35      by securing, or causing to be secured, a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt on each
             36      person.
             37          (b) Notwithstanding the requirement under Subsection (1)(a)(ii), a child under eight
             38      years of age who is 57 inches tall or taller:
             39          (i) is exempt from the requirement in Subsection (1)(a)(ii) to be in a child restraint
             40      device; and
             41          (ii) shall use a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt as required in Subsection
             42      (1)(a)(iii).
             43          (2) A passenger who is 16 years of age or older of a motor vehicle operated on a
             44      highway shall wear a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt.
             45          (3) If more than one person is not using a child restraint device or wearing a safety belt
             46      in violation of Subsection (1), it is only one offense and the driver may receive only one
             47      citation.
             48          (4) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b), a state or local law enforcement officer
             49      shall enforce a violation of this section as a primary offense.
             50          [(4)] (b) For a person 19 years of age or older who violates Subsection (1)(a)(i) or (2),
             51      enforcement by a state or local law enforcement officer shall be only as a secondary action
             52      [when] if the person:
             53          (i) has been detained for a suspected violation of Title 41, Motor Vehicles, other than
             54      Subsection (1)(a)(i) or (2), or for another offense[.]; and
             55          (ii) was operating the motor vehicle or was a passenger in a motor vehicle being
             56      operated on a highway with a posted speed limit of less than 55 miles per hour.





Legislative Review Note
    as of 12-2-13 1:51 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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