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S.B. 12

             1     

SAFETY BELT LAW AMENDMENTS

             2     
2000 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Sponsor: Robert F. Montgomery

             5      AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; REQUIRING SAFETY BELTS OR CHILD
             6      RESTRAINT DEVICES FOR DRIVERS AND ALL PASSENGERS OF MOTOR VEHICLES;
             7      PROVIDING PENALTIES; AND AMENDING ENFORCEMENT AS A SECONDARY
             8      ACTION.
             9      This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
             10      AMENDS:
             11          41-6-183, as last amended by Chapter 5, Laws of Utah 1991
             12          41-6-185, as last amended by Chapter 234, Laws of Utah 1993
             13          41-6-186, as enacted by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1986
             14      ENACTS:
             15          41-6-181.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             16      REPEALS AND REENACTS:
             17          41-6-182, as last amended by Chapter 234, Laws of Utah 1993
             18      REPEALS:
             19          41-6-184, as last amended by Chapter 5, Laws of Utah 1991
             20          41-6-148.20, as last amended by Chapter 270, Laws of Utah 1998
             21      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             22          Section 1. Section 41-6-181.5 is enacted to read:
             23          41-6-181.5. Definitions.
             24          As used in this article:
             25          (1) "Child restraint device" means a child restraint device approved by the commissioner
             26      of the Department of Public Safety.
             27          (2) "Motor vehicle" means a vehicle defined in Section 41-1a-102 , except vehicles that are


             28      not equipped with safety belts by the manufacturer.
             29          (3) "Safety belt" means a safety belt or seat belt system that meets standards set by the
             30      commissioner of the Department of Public Safety.
             31          (4) "Seating position" means any area within the passenger compartment of a motor
             32      vehicle in which the manufacturer has installed a safety belt.
             33          Section 2. Section 41-6-182 is repealed and reenacted to read:
             34          41-6-182. Driver and passengers -- Seat belt or child restraint device required.
             35          (1) The driver of a motor vehicle operated on a highway shall:
             36          (a) wear a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt;
             37          (b) provide for the protection of each person younger than four years of age by using a
             38      child restraint device to restrain each person in the manner prescribed by the manufacturer of the
             39      device; and
             40          (c) provide for the protection of each person four years of age up to 16 years of age by
             41      using an appropriate child restraint device to restrain each person in the manner prescribed by the
             42      manufacturer of the device or by securing, or causing to be secured, a properly adjusted and
             43      fastened safety belt on each person.
             44          (2) A passenger who is 16 years of age or older of a motor vehicle operated on a highway
             45      shall wear a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt.
             46          (3) In accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
             47      commissioner of the Department of Public Safety shall set standards for approved safety belts and
             48      child restraint devices.
             49          (4) If more than one person is not using a child restraint device or wearing a safety belt in
             50      violation of Subsection (1), it is only one offense and the driver may receive only one citation.
             51          (5) For a person 21 years of age or older who violates Subsection (1)(a) or (2),
             52      enforcement by a state or local law enforcement officer shall be only as a secondary action when
             53      the person has been detained for a suspected violation of Title 41, Motor Vehicles, other than
             54      Subsection (1)(a) or (2), or for another offense.
             55          Section 3. Section 41-6-183 is amended to read:
             56           41-6-183. Exceptions.
             57          (1) This article does not apply to a driver or [front seat] passenger of:
             58          [(1)] (a) a motor vehicle manufactured before July 1, 1966;


             59          [(2)] (b) a motor vehicle in which the driver or passengers possess a written verification
             60      from a licensed physician that the driver or passenger is unable to wear a safety [seat] belt [system]
             61      for physical or medical reasons; or
             62          [(3)] (c) a motor vehicle or seating position which is not required to be equipped with a
             63      safety [seat] belt system under federal law[;].
             64          [(4) a motor vehicle operated by a rural letter carrier of the United States Postal Service
             65      while performing the duties of a rural letter carrier; or]
             66          [(5) a motor vehicle engaged in pick up, delivery, or service operations involving repeated
             67      starts and stops and requiring the front seat occupant to frequently and repeatedly enter and leave
             68      the vehicle.]
             69          (2) This article does not apply to a passenger if all seating positions are occupied by other
             70      passengers.
             71          Section 4. Section 41-6-185 is amended to read:
             72           41-6-185. Penalty for violation.
             73          (1) (a) A person who violates Section 41-6-182 is guilty of an infraction and shall be fined
             74      a maximum of [$10] $45.
             75          (b) The court shall waive all but $15 of the fine for a violation of Section 41-6-182 if a
             76      person shows evidence of completion of a two-hour course approved by the commissioner of the
             77      Department of Public Safety that includes education on the benefits of using a safety belt and child
             78      restraint device.
             79          (2) Points for a motor vehicle reportable violation, as defined under Section 53-3-102 , may
             80      not be assessed against any person for a violation of Section 41-6-182 .
             81          (3) The court in which a charge is pending for a first violation of Subsection
             82      41-6-182 (1)(b) shall dismiss the action against a driver who, during or before any court appearance
             83      on the matter, submits proof of acquisition, rental, or purchase of a child restraint device as
             84      required by Subsection 41-6-182 (1)(b).
             85          Section 5. Section 41-6-186 is amended to read:
             86           41-6-186. Compliance -- Civil litigation.
             87          The failure to use a child restraint device or to wear a [seat] safety belt does not constitute
             88      contributory or comparative negligence on the part of a person seeking recovery for injuries, and
             89      may not be introduced as evidence in any civil litigation on the issue of negligence, injuries, or


             90      [on] the [issue of] mitigation of damages.
             91          Section 6. Repealer.
             92          This act repeals:
             93          Section 41-6-148.20, Child restraint device required -- Violation as infraction --
             94      Dismissal of charge -- Failure not admissible as to negligence.
             95          Section 41-6-184, Enforcement.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 11-26-99 8:59 AM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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