Kentucky Seat Belt Law

 

Effective July 12, 2006, Kentucky's seat belt law became a "primary" or standard enforcement law. This means that law enforcement officers can now stop a vehicle solely for an occupant restraint violation. Previously, Kentucky's law only allowed officers to cite for this violation if some other violation initiated the traffic stop.

 

The new law resulted from House Bill 117, passed during the Kentucky General Assembly's 2006 regular legislative session.

 

In summary, Kentucky's seat belt law specifies the following:

• 
  
• A person shall not operate a motor vehicle manufactured after 1981 on the public roadways of this state unless the driver and all passengers are wearing a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt (unless the passenger is a child of 40 inches or less in height - see additional requirement below)
  
• If a person is unable to wear a seat belt for medical or physical reasons, they must have in their possession a written statement from a physician or licensed chiropractor.
  
• A conviction for a seat belt violation shall not be transmitted by the court to the Transportation Cabinet for inclusion on a person's driving history record.
  
• Any person who violates the provisions of Kentucky's seat belt law shall be fined an amount not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25). This fine shall be subject to prepayment and shall not be subject to court costs.
  
• Law enforcement agencies shall be prohibited from erecting roadblocks for the sole purpose of checking for seat belt use violations
  

Just for the record so everyone is straight about the law.

I don't mind if they stop me if I don't have it on. It's a law, and like speeding, I need to obey. It's for my safety, as well as the safety of others.

I wear my seat belt. Also ask others who are in the vehicle with me to snap theirs on too. It's a good law.

Boone Co was doing their part this morning on SB 75, had about 6 cars pulled over from Walton to Florence.

No one should be able to make you wear a seat belt, period, if you are a bill paying adult, with a job and insurance. I appreciate people wanting to protect me, but it is my deciscion, and all the bad things in this world a seat belt should be the last thing someone cares about.

No one should be able to make you wear a seat belt, period, if you are a bill paying adult, with a job and insurance. I appreciate people wanting to protect me, but it is my deciscion, and all the bad things in this world a seat belt should be the last thing someone cares about.

 

So, quick question...say you're in an accident and are seriously injured because you weren't wearing your seat belt. You say it's okay...you've got insurance. Where do they (the insurance company) get the money to pay for all of your medical bills?

Agreed.

 

And if it were to increase revenue they'd charge court costs with seatbelt tickets. Currently they do not.

 

Very valid points. All I'm saying that money is being spent to put Officers on this detail. My opinion is that tax dollars could be allocated better.

So you don't support fugitives being found and arrested, you don't support stolen cars being found, you don't support drugs being confiscated that are found during traffic stops, you don't support DUI offenders being taken off of the road?

 

Look, I'm all for smaller government and for government not over reaching. But the stuff some of you are complaining about is ridiculous.

 

Where did I say any of that? I'm not for government finding more reasons to ignore the 4th ammendment to try and find criminals. Not wearing a seat belt is harming no one. It is not a major offense, and should not be a reason to pull me over.

I don't mind if they stop me if I don't have it on. It's a law, and like speeding, I need to obey. It's for my safety, as well as the safety of others.

 

I don't need the government telling me how to keep myself safe. I'm intelligent enough to put a seat belt on myself.

Be sure to read the follow up story when the numbers are announced telling how many fugitives are caught, stolen vehicles located, and persons arrested for DUI just for wasting time looking for seat belt violations.

Scribe posted this

 

Ding Ding Ding. My post is proven. The law is more about finding different ways to pull people over to try and uncover other crimes. I don't like it and is to big government for me.

 

I wear my seat belt everytime I'm in the car. But I don't believe it is the governments business if I wear my seat belt.

You responded this

 

So you don't support fugitives being found and arrested, you don't support stolen cars being found, you don't support drugs being confiscated that are found during traffic stops, you don't support DUI offenders being taken off of the road?

 

Look, I'm all for smaller government and for government not over reaching. But the stuff some of you are complaining about is ridiculous.

I responded

 

Where did I say any of that? I'm not for government finding more reasons to ignore the 4th ammendment to try and find criminals. Not wearing a seat belt is harming no one. It is not a major offense, and should not be a reason to pull me over.

 

Scribe is talking about other crimes that are solved or discovered during traffic stops, then you said that you didn't like it. BTW I don't think a traffic stop with probable cause is violating the 4th. I also don't think the seat belt law was written to take any ones freedom from them. If it was then the law would allow you to be arrested for this offense, not get a $25 fine.

 

Very valid points. All I'm saying that money is being spent to put Officers on this detail. My opinion is that tax dollars could be allocated better.

 

I think there are other areas of concern where our tax dollars are being spent that are much worse than paying police to enforce seatbelt laws.

I'm all for Law Enforcement but using resources who's sole purpose is to find seatbelt violaters in my opinion is a waste. Use this grant money for someting more, maybe better protective equipment, communication devices, or if it's not needed return the money back to the tax payer.

 

Personal safety is a choice. If i choose not to do it then I should suffer the consequence. Again I use my seatbelt everytime but I shouldn't have to pay someone to police you if you choose differently. What's next, will we be forced to wear helments as we drive? (just so you know that was my attempt at sarcasm)

I think there are other areas of concern where our tax dollars are being spent that are much worse than paying police to enforce seatbelt laws.

 

I agree, this is just one of my pet peeves. LOL

Scribe posted this

 

You responded this

 

I responded

 

 

 

Scribe is talking about other crimes that are solved or discovered during traffic stops, then you said that you didn't like it. BTW I don't think a traffic stop with probable cause is violating the 4th. I also don't think the seat belt law was written to take any ones freedom from them. If it was then the law would allow you to be arrested for this offense, not get a $25 fine.

 

It is now a primary offense , in the past it was a secondary offense. Now it is a reason to pull a car over, in the past it was an offense that could only be tickted if you were pulled over for another offense. The arrest has nothing to do with it. I don't like the idea of making it a primary offense when there is little to no imminent threat caused to others by driving without a seat belt. It is big government telling you how to you live your life. I see it the same as Mayor Bloomberg telling people what size soda they can drink. Could results of this law have some positive , sure. But I don't think positives out weigh restricting any liberty or freedoms.

I think there are other areas of concern where our tax dollars are being spent that are much worse than paying police to enforce seatbelt laws.

 

I don't think the defense of, the government is already inefficent to be a very good reason to allow more inefficency.