Texas Seat Belt Law
We’ve all heard it by now, “Click it or ticket!” but what does it all mean? The laws involved are often not preached or even known but yet the phrase incites a sense of “yea right” with many Texans who have the keep on truckin’ mentality. The fact of the matter is, failing to wear your seatbelt is a serious offense, even for passengers.
Most citations issued are only resolved after the defendant is given a court ordered attendance of TEA approved courses for seat belt violations is mandated in §545.413 of the Texas Statutes. These classes are focused on informing the unsafe passenger or driver of the potential risks involved in failing to ride in a state approved safety restraint (i.e. seatbelt). These classes also offer a hefty source of income for the state, which they in turn use to construct new highways (and by new model year Tahoe’s and Chargers) for people to drive on… without safety restraints… see the never ending cycle here?
The law breaks down like this:
(a) A person commits an offense if:
(1) the person:
(A) is at least 15 years of age;
(B) is riding in [the front seat of] a passenger vehicle while the vehicle is being operated;
(C) is occupying a seat that is equipped with a safety belt; and
(D) is not secured by a safety belt; or
(2) as the operator of a school bus equipped with a safety belt for the operator’s seat, the person is not secured by the safety belt.
(1) Operates a passenger vehicle that is equipped with safety belts; and
(2) allows a child who is younger than 17 years of age and who is not required to be secured in a child passenger safety seat system under Section 545.412(a) to ride in the vehicle without requiring the child to be secured by a safety belt, provided the child is occupying a seat that is equipped with a safety belt.
(b-1) A person commits an offense if the person allows a child who is younger than 17 years of age and who is not required to be secured in a child passenger safety seat system under Section 545.412(a) to ride in a passenger van designed to transport 15 or fewer passengers, including the driver, without securing the child individually by a safety belt, if the child is occupying a seat that is equipped with a safety belt.
(c) A passenger vehicle or a seat in a passenger vehicle is considered to be equipped with a safety belt if the vehicle is required under Section 547.601 to be equipped with safety belts.
(d) An offense under Subsection (a) is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $25 or more than $50. An offense under Subsection (b) is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $100 or more than $200.
Listen to the full podcast here: Texas Seat Belt Law
