1     
SAFETY BELT LAW AMENDMENTS

2     
2015 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Lee B. Perry

5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill modifies the Traffic Code by amending provisions relating to safety belt
10     restraints.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     repeals the provision that provides that a state or local law enforcement officer may
14     only enforce the safety belt restraint requirement as a secondary action in certain
15     circumstances; and
16          ▸     makes technical corrections.
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 -- Seat belt or child restraint device required.
28          (1) (a) The operator of a motor vehicle operated on a highway shall:
29          (i) wear a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt;
30          (ii) provide for the protection of each person younger than eight years of age by using a
31     child restraint device to restrain each person in the manner prescribed by the manufacturer of
32     the device; and
33          (iii) provide for the protection of each person eight years of age up to 16 years of age
34     by securing, or causing to be secured, a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt on each
35     person.
36          (b) Notwithstanding the requirement under Subsection (1)(a)(ii), a child under eight
37     years of age who is 57 inches tall or taller:
38          (i) is exempt from the requirement in Subsection (1)(a)(ii) to be in a child restraint
39     device; and
40          (ii) shall use a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt as required in Subsection
41     (1)(a)(iii).
42          (2) A [passenger who is] person 16 years of age or older [of] who is a passenger in a
43     motor vehicle operated on a highway shall wear a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt.
44          (3) If more than one person is not using a child restraint device or wearing a safety belt
45     in violation of Subsection (1), it is considered only one offense, and the driver may receive
46     only one citation for that offense.
47          [(4) For a person 19 years of age or older who violates Subsection (1)(a)(i) or (2),
48     enforcement by a state or local law enforcement officer shall be only as a secondary action
49     when the person has been detained for a suspected violation of Title 41, Motor Vehicles, other
50     than Subsection (1)(a)(i) or (2), or for another offense.]




Legislative Review Note
     as of 1-2-15 10:38 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel