These laws, primarily apply to front-seat passengers.
Some states allow police to stop vehicles solely for belt law violations.
Police authority to enforce belt laws in Ohio jurisdictions is limited. Officers must have some other reason to stop a vehicle before citing an occupant for failing to buckle up. In 17 states, including Michigan and Ohio, the safety belt defense is allowed. Damages collected by someone in a crash may be reduced for failure to use a belt. The reduction is permitted only for injuries caused by nonuse of belts, and, in some states, the reduction may not exceed a fixed percentage of the damages.