Have You Been Pulled Over Because Of Seat Belts?

Most if not all seat belt laws (which can vary by state) exclude cars build before 1965. Has anyone been pulled over or issued a ticket for not wearing a seat belt in a car built before January 1st, 1965? And was the ticket dismissed?

I always were my belts, but keep a copy of the seat belt law with the exclusion highlighted just in case.

 

Nope. Even went through one of those seatbelt check points and they just waved me throughl.

 

Older cars that just have lap belts, make it kind of difficult to determine if someone is "buckled up". Late model cars have the shoulder belt and that can be seen from a distance.

I've never been pulled over for seat belt violations. Have been in roadside safety checks, where they walk up and look for the lap belt, but no problems. Probably depends on how much of a prick the cop wants to be. Stu

 

yes and yes. And like Stu said, it depends on the cop.

 

My son was issued a ticket in a Bank parking Lot because his girlfriend at the time climbed into the back seat to retrieve a book she needed for class that morning. The car was parked at the time.
I installed seat belts in the 57 BelAir 2door sedan when we got it, 2 in the front, 3 in back.
We copied the State regs and went to court. The ticket was dismissed but the Judge did point out that, although in this case the ticket should not have been issued at all, the mandated wearing of seat belts has no restriction of year model. The requirement applies if belts are installed in the car or truck, regardless of whether they were factory equipment at the time the car was built. Of course when seat belts became factory required equipment the car/truck must have them and they must be worn.

 

I've been pulled over for it in my 63 and gotten away without a ticket, but I've also been given a couple tickets for it and yes they've all been dismissed. I've gone through the seatbelt check points and usually if they even question it all ya have to do is start talking about what the actual law states and the cop basically gets annoyed that youre not a dumbass and lets ya go...

it all depends on how pissed off the cop is that day, but in the end ya never have to actually pay the ticket from my experience

 

The car was on private property and not moving? The cop musta been mad at your son.

 

To be honest I'm surprised that all states don't require belts regardless of the age of the car. In my state if it's registered as an antique (1982 and earlier), you don't even have to have any type of inspection which seems absurd.

I think there should be a minimum feature set for all cars that includes the basics like belts, lights, and brakes. I see a lot of crap sharing the roads with my wife and kids and it really gets me pissed off.

 

Indiana law is fuzzy but it reads "must be worn in cars with installed seat belts made 1964 or latter.What year did it become mandatory for the car companies to install lap belts? And do you guys think that a lap belt is safe?

 

I think a lap belt is better than passing through the windshield. With that said I'm going to be looking into mounting retractable 3 point belts in my car this winter.

 

1965 was the year belts became mandatory. Illinois law requires you to wear them if they are installed as well. I'd rather have a lap belt than no belt, it'll at least keep you in the car in an accident.

Bill

 

Wahhh wah wah... suck it up I don't want a Nanny country...


North Carolina if the car has them thay have to be used. If the car didn't come with them you don't have to have them, but if you put them in you have to use them.

 

When the "Cars" public service seat belt cartoon cam out on TV it said "All cars, everybody, must wear seat belts" I called NTSB in DC and got the lady who was in charge of that ad campain, and pointed out that was not true. She agreed and the spot that was leading up to the Brickyard 400 was pulled. The lady said her family had a '29 Ford truck and it did not have seat belts.

 

In California, basically if you got em, use em.

As for private property, if it's a public parking lot and there are signs posted at each entrance/exit saying vehicles codes will be enforced, you can still get a ticket.

There's also a movement in the insurance industry that if the cause of your injuries are the result of not wearing a seatbelt, your medical will not be covered by either party. That is what got me to finally wear a seat belt. Now I feel naked without it.

 

Yes IF you put them In your car IN Kansas you had better have them on.I installed the 3 point in my 47. The wife and I were in a car wreck 2 years ago in our 93 Buick Hit from behind and It broke my Left Collar bone and let the wife come out of herShoulder belt Thus totally destroying her Left shoulder. So now I put the shoulder belt under my left arm.

 

You may have gotten hurt, but putting it under your arm is a good way to get killed. All your vital organs are in your chest/abdomen. Wearing the belt like that causes all that stuff to be crushed. You would be better off with no belt, than an improperly worn belt.

 

Sorry but I think seat belts and seat belt laws SUCK.............

 

I installed lap belts for the front seats of my '64 Galaxie yesterday. So, I have the seltbelt tag right here. This is from Beam Industries document.

" All US passenger cars, beginning with 1962 models, have seat belt anchorages for at least two lap belts in the front seat. Since January 1, 1968, vehicle manufactures have been required to install lap belt anchorages for each front and rear seating position and upper torso belt anchorages at each forward facing outboard seating position. On January 1, 1972, this same requirement became effective for trucks."

This doesn't address when the belts themselves became mandatory. I think they were an option on most vehicles for a few years.

Tom

 

Just like helmet laws...

 

That shoulder belt under your arm can do a hell of a lot more damage than a broken collar bone!

 

My son was given a seatbelt ticket in the parking lot of a grocery store in Lexington North Carolina He was eating a snack in his elky and had the engine running !

 

Not just your state - Rhode Island has no safety on stuff registered and "Antique"

CT has NO Safety Inspection on ANYTHING - just emmissions

I have have to agree with zman - "I don't want a nanny country" it's bad enough with everthing else, please leave our cars alone.

No seatbelts in NH either - "Live Free or Die"

 

I got checked a lot in my 75 C30 with just lap belts but never ticketed I had a 95 Escort with the self activating shoulder harness the jammed so I disconnected them the wife and I were stopped in belt checks 3 times and NOT ticketed because we were both using the lap belts.

 

i had three tickets at once the first time i ever got pulled over and one was for no seatbelts. the car was a 64 chevy ii. got $300 fine and 6month court sup. for all three offences

 

No and Yes.

It's the law in Minnesota they can pull you over for not wearing one and that can be the only reason! Not yet.

In Chicago we went out to dinner. At a 4 Way Stop the cops were checking it you had your belts on, no belt TICKET. Lots of cops, lots of Tickets.

 

My wife got pulled over in her '63 Chevy in Newport Beach (Nazi cops with highlights in their hair). Was given fix-it tickets for no seatbelt and no side view mirror. Her car was 100% origional, purchased from it's first owner. Eventually they were both dismissed, but it took a lot of work on our part.

 

My girlfriend got pulled over in Fresno by two motorcycle cops. She could hear them talking to each other; discussing if her car needed seat belts or not. When they got to her door she told them, "No, I don't need seatbelts," before they even asked her if she knew why she was pulled over.
It's smart to know the laws when owning older rides. Protect yourself.

 

Nope never been pulled over... Every cops been cool with me, I have gotten out of 2 speed tick violations (one 20 over and the other 10 over) and 1 turn signal violation. But I didn't get out of my last one 21 over.. :-( Plus in my state my truck isn't required to even have them
Garrett

 

I worked for a GM dealer in 65. Seat belts in front were a delete option, you could order a car without them. But since they were standard that year, most states now require them. Rear seat belts became a delete option in 66. In 68, you had to take them.

 

I've got a stock 34 Ford truck with the gas tank under the seat. How would you like to strap yourself to that?!