Seat belt laws in the United States

Table columns:
State
Type of law
Date of first law
Who is covered
Base fine before fees
Seat Belt Usage[5]

Table rows:
cells: Alabama
Primary Enforcement
July 18, 1991
Age 15+ in front seats
$25
91.4%
cells: Alaska
Primary Enforcement
September 12, 1990
Age 16+ in all seats
$15 ($25 actual)
86.8%
cells: Arizona
Secondary Enforcement
January 1, 1991
Age 8+ in front seats; Age 8–15 in all seats
$10 ($37.20 actual)
81.8%
cells: Arkansas
Primary Enforcement
July 15, 1991
Age 15+ in front seats
$25
78.3%
cells: California
Primary Enforcement
January 1, 1986
Age 16+ in all seats
$20 ($162 actual) $50 second offense ($190 actual)5
96.2%
cells: Colorado
Secondary Enforcement1 exception Mountain View where it is a primary violation[6]
July 1, 1987
Age 16+ in front seats
$71
82.9%
cells: Connecticut
Primary Enforcement
January 1, 1986
Age 7+ in front seats
$92
88.2%
cells: Delaware
Primary Enforcement
January 1, 1992
Age 16+ in all seats
$25
90.7%
cells: District of Columbia
Primary Enforcement
December 12, 1985
Age 16+ in all seats
$504
92.3%
cells: Florida
Primary Enforcement
July 1, 1986
6+ years in front seat; 6 through 17 years in all seats
$30 ($116 actual)
87.4%
cells: Georgia
Primary Enforcement
September 1, 1988
Age 8–17 in all seats; Age 18+ in front seats
$15
89.6%
cells: Hawaii
Primary Enforcement
December 16, 1985
Age 8+ in all seats
$45 ($112 actual)
97.6%
cells: Idaho
Secondary Enforcement2
July 1, 1986
Age 7+ in all seats
$10 ($51.50 actual)
77.9%
cells: Illinois
Primary Enforcement
January 1, 1988
Age 16+ in all seats
$25 ($60 actual or $95 if choosing traffic school)
92.6%
cells: Indiana
Primary Enforcement
July 1, 1987
Age 16+ in all seats
$25
92.4%
cells: Iowa
Primary Enforcement
July 1, 1986
All ages in front seats; under 18 in rear seats[7]
$25 ($127.50 actual)
93.1%
cells: Kansas
Primary Enforcement3
July 1, 1986
Age 14+ in all seats
$60 for age 14-17; $10 for 18+
81.8%
cells: Kentucky
Primary Enforcement
July 15, 1994
Age 7 and younger and more than 57 inches in all seats; 8+ in all seats
$25
80.3%
cells: Louisiana
Primary Enforcement
July 1, 1986
Age 13+ in front seats
$25
75.9%
cells: Maine
Primary Enforcement
December 26, 1995
Age 18+ in all seats
$50
82.0%
cells: Maryland
Primary Enforcement3
July 1, 1986
Age 16+ in all seats
$83
94.7%
cells: Massachusetts
Secondary Enforcement
February 1, 1994
Age 13+ in all seats[8]
$25
73.7%
cells: Michigan
Primary Enforcement
July 1, 1985
Age 16+ in front seats
$25 ($65 actual)
95.2%
cells: Minnesota
Primary Enforcement
August 1, 1986
7 and younger and more than 57 inches in all seats; 8+ in all seats
$25 + $75 fee
92.3%
cells: Mississippi
Primary Enforcement
July 1, 1994
Age 7+ in all seats
$25
81.0%
cells: Missouri
Secondary Enforcement1
September 28, 1985
Age 16+ in front seats; age 8-15 in all seats
$10 for age 16+; $50 for age 8-15
76.0%
cells: Montana
Secondary Enforcement
October 1, 1987
Age 6+ in all seats
$20
78.9%
cells: Nebraska
Secondary Enforcement
January 1, 1993
Age 18+ in front seats
$25
84.1%
cells: Nevada
Secondary Enforcement
July 1, 1987
Age 6+ in all seats
$25
93.2%
cells: New Hampshire
None, Primary for children only
No law
Age 17 and under in all seats
$50
72.2%
cells: New Jersey
Primary Enforcement3
March 1, 1985
Age 8+ in all seats
$46 per person
93.7%
cells: New Mexico
Primary Enforcement
January 1, 1986
Age 18+ in all seats
$254
89.8%
cells: New York
Primary Enforcement
December 1, 1984
Age 16+ in front seats; under 16 in all seats
$50 ($135 Actual after surcharges)[9]
89.8%
cells: North Carolina
Primary Enforcement, Secondary for Backseat[10]
October 1, 1985
All ages in all seats
$161 for front seat; $10 for rear seat
89.7%
cells: North Dakota
Secondary Enforcement2
July 14, 1994
Age 18+ in front seats; under 18 in all seats
$20 for age 18+; $25 + 1 point on license for under 184
74.8%
cells: Ohio
Secondary Enforcement
May 6, 1986
Age 15+ in front seat; 8–14 in all seats
$30 for driver; $20 for passenger
83.8%
cells: Oklahoma
Primary Enforcement
February 1, 1987
Age 13+ in front seats
$20
85.9%
cells: Oregon
Primary Enforcement
December 7, 1990
All ages in all seats
$130
97.0%
cells: Pennsylvania
Secondary Enforcement2
November 23, 1987
Age 18+ in front seats; age 8-17 in all seats
$10
86.0%
cells: Rhode Island
Primary Enforcement
June 18, 1991
Age 8+ in all seats
$75
78.0%
cells: South Carolina
Primary Enforcement
July 1, 1989
Age 6+ in all seats
$25
85.4%
cells: South Dakota
Secondary Enforcement
January 1, 1995
Age 18+ in front seats
$25
74.5%
cells: Tennessee
Primary Enforcement
April 21, 1986
Age 16+ in front seats
$25
87.1%
cells: Texas
Primary Enforcement
September 1, 1985
Age 7 years and younger and 57 inches or taller in all seats; age 8+ years in all seats
$200 if under 17 (driver); $50 if over 15 (driver or passenger)
93.8%
cells: Utah
Primary Enforcement
April 28, 1986
All ages in all seats
$45
89.0%
cells: Vermont
Secondary Enforcement2
January 1, 1994
All ages in all seats
$25
85.2%
cells: Virginia
Secondary Enforcement2
January 1, 1988
All drivers; age 18+ in front seats; under 18 in all seats
$25
80.5%
cells: Washington
Primary Enforcement
June 11, 1986
Age 8+ in all seats
$124
97.6%
cells: West Virginia
Primary Enforcement
September 1, 1993
All ages in front seats; 8–17 in rear seats
$25
82.1%
cells: Wisconsin
Primary Enforcement
December 1, 1987
Age 8+ in all seats
$10
79.2%
cells: Wyoming
Secondary Enforcement
June 8, 1989
Age 9+ in all seats
$25 for driver; $10 for passenger
78.9%

Questions about this table:
originalText: when did the california seat belt law start
answer: answerTexts: January 1, 1986