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RV Seat Belt Laws: Keep Safe & On The Right Side Of The Law
RV seat belt laws are crucial regulations that ensure safety during travel in RVs. Every RV owner and operator must understand and adhere to the rules to avoid legal penalties and, more importantly, provide a safe journey.
- RV seat belt laws vary by state in the US.
- California requires all RV passengers to buckle up.
- Arizona permits no seat belts in RV living areas.
- Florida and Georgia mandate seat belts for front seats.
- Many states enforce seat belt rules for children.
- Texas imposes fines for non-compliance with seat belts.
- RV manufacturers offer guidelines on seat belt usage.
Rides in an RV should be fun and lively. But if you are weighing fun over safety, think again.
You have plenty of sitting spaces in an RV, from sofas to dining and bunks. You can sit anywhere in your motorhome. However, you can’t ignore the RV seat belt laws on the road.
If you are on the open road, you have to buckle up. But, we are aware that not everyone knows the RV seat belt laws as they vary from state to state.
I will make it easier for you to follow RV seat belt laws in this article. You can enjoy your life on the open road while being safe and secure at the same time.
RV Seat Belt State Laws
Even in the most luxurious motorhomes, seat belt safety is not different than in automobiles. But, not all states have the same seat belt laws for RVs.
In some states, it is only necessary for the front passengers to buckle up. In others, all the passengers must be strapped in, no matter where they’re sitting.
The NHTSA establishes the seatbelt laws, and they largely depend on the state you’re in.
So, if you are traveling across state lines, you might find yourself breaking the seatbelt laws of the new region.
Hence, it is necessary to check the seatbelt laws of the state you’re traveling to beforehand, never to risk a ticket or your security.
Primary Vs. Secondary Enforcement
There are two types of seat belt laws: primary enforcement and secondary enforcement.
In primary enforcement, a law enforcement officer can stop the driver and ticket them for violating the seatbelt law.
On the other hand, the secondary enforcement law allows an officer to stop the driver for any other violation, such as speeding. Then, he can charge the driver if the seat belt law is being violated.
Moreover, if you are not in a state that observes secondary enforcement, you cannot be pulled over by an officer for not wearing a seatbelt unless you’re breaking a different law.
RV Seat Belt Laws for all 50 US States
You must wear a seatbelt in only 22 of the 50 US states, no matter where you sit in the RV.
Yet, there are a few exceptions to following the seatbelt laws. Although it is appreciable if everyone wears a seatbelt, sometimes it’s impossible.
For instance, the elderly or sick can get a medical exemption from seat belt laws. However, they must provide a doctor’s note for the exemption.
Now, without further delay, let’s just right into the seatbelt laws of all 50 US states. This list will come in handy if you are always traveling across states.
The following states require all passengers to have seat belts strapped on:
1. Alaska (AK)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Primary enforcement
Exemptions: medical reasons, school buses, newspaper/mail delivery, vehicles without safety belts
Fine: $15
2. Arkansas (AK)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Primary enforcement
Exemptions: medical reasons, rural delivery, buses, vehicle models before 1968
Fine: $25
3. California (CA)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Primary enforcement
Exemptions: medical reasons, emergency vehicles
Fine: $20
4. Colorado (CO)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Secondary enforcement
Exemptions: medical reasons, buses, emergency vehicles, farm tractors, vehicles without
safety belts
Fine: $15
5. Delaware (DE)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Primary enforcement
Exemptions: medical reasons, off-road vehicles, delivery vehicles, tractors
Fine: $25
6. Georgia (GA)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Primary enforcement
Exemptions: medical reasons, newspaper delivery, off-road vehicles, vehicles for more than ten passengers, reversing or emergency vehicles, vehicle models before 1965
Fine: $15
7. Idaho (ID)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Secondary enforcement
Exemptions: medical reasons, all belts in use, mail delivery vehicles more than 8,000 lbs, emergency vehicles
Fine: $10
8. Illinois (IL)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Primary enforcement
Exemptions: medical reasons, mail delivery, reversing or emergency vehicles, vehicles without safety belts
Fine: $25
9. Iowa (IA)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Primary enforcement
Exemptions: medical reasons, delivery service, buses, and emergency vehicles
Fine: $25
10. Kentucky (KA)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Primary enforcement
Exemptions: medical reasons, mail delivery, farm vehicles more than 2,000 lbs, cars for more than ten people, trucks more than 12,000lbs, vehicle models before 1965
Fine: $25
11. Maine (MA)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Primary enforcement
Exemptions: medical reasons, rural mail delivery, taxis, vehicles without belts
Fine: $25-$50
12. Massachusetts (MA)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Secondary enforcement
Exemptions: medical reasons, rural mail delivery, taxis, buses, tractors, livery vehicles, trucks more than 18,000 lbs, emergency vehicles
Fine: $25
13. Montana (MT)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Secondary enforcement
Exemptions: medical reasons, all belts in use, vehicles with frequent stops, special vehicles
Fine: $20
14. Nevada (NV)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Secondary enforcement
Exemptions: medical reasons, rural mail delivery, taxis, buses, emergency vehicles, vehicles without belts, making frequent stops, or less than 15 mph
Fine: $25
15. New Hampshire (NH)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Secondary enforcement
Exemptions: taxis, school buses, antique vehicles, parade vehicles, vehicle models before 1968
Fine: $25
16. New Mexico (NM)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Primary enforcement
Exemptions: medical reasons, rural mail delivery vehicles of more than 10,000 lbs
Fine: $25 (minimum)
17. Oregon (OR)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Primary enforcement
Exemptions: medical reasons, newspaper delivery, meter reader, all belts in use, taxis, transit vehicles, trash trucks, emergency vehicles, vehicles for more than 15 passengers, or without belts
Fine: $94
18. Rhode Island (RI)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Primary enforcement
Exemptions: medical reasons, rural mail delivery, vehicles without belts, vehicle models before 1966
Fine: $75
19. South Carolina (SC)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Primary enforcement
Exemptions: medical reasons, delivery service, all belts in use, school/public buses, vehicles for more than ten passengers, parade vehicles
Fine: $10
20. Utah (UT)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Primary enforcement
Exemptions: medical reasons, all belts in use, vehicles without belts, vehicle models before 1966
Fine: $15-$45
21. Vermont (VT)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Secondary enforcement
Exemptions: medical reasons, rural mail delivery, delivery of more than 15 mph, taxis, buses, farm tractors, emergency vehicles
Fine: $10
22. Washington (WA)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Primary enforcement
Exemptions: medical reasons, all belts in use, farm vehicles, construction vehicles, vehicles for more than ten passengers, commercial cars with frequent stops
Fine: $101
23. Wyoming (WY)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Secondary enforcement
Exemptions: medical reasons, mail delivery, all belts in use, buses, emergency vehicles
Fine: $10-$25
24. District of Columbia (DC)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Secondary enforcement
Exemptions: medical reasons, taxis, vehicles for more than nine passengers, farm vehicles, vehicle models before 1966
Fine: $50 (minimum)
25. Puerto Rico (PR)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Primary enforcement
Exemptions: none
Fine: $50
26. US Virgin Islands (VI)
Seatbelt Law: All passengers
Law Type: Primary enforcement
Exemptions: none
Fine: $25-$250
The following states require only front-seat passengers to have seat belts strapped on:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
RV Seat Belt Laws for Children
If you are an RV driver, you must check if every rider is buckled up to ensure the safety of your loved ones. Being careless can be dangerous to the minor in the RV in case of an accident.
When it comes to minors, specific age groups require seat belts while sitting at the back of the RV.
Here’s a list of the US states in which minors of the following age groups must wear seat belts in a moving RV:
- Arizona: 5-15
- Connecticut: 4-16
- Florida: 6-17
- Hawaii: 4-17
- Georgia: 6-17
- Illinois: 8-15
- Indiana: 4-11
- Kansas: 4-14
- Louisiana: 6-15
- Michigan: 4-15
- Minnesota: 4-10
- Mississippi: 4-10
- Missouri: 4-15
- Nebraska: 4-18
- New Jersey: 8-17
- New York: under 15
- North Carolina: under 15
- North Dakota: 7-17
- Oklahoma: 6-12
- Pennsylvania: 8-17
- South Dakota: under 18
- Tennessee: under 16
- Texas: under 17
- Virginia: under 16
- West Virginia: under 17
- Wisconsin: 4-15
Alternative for Minors:
Are you concerned for the safety of your little ones?
If your children are fussy about putting on seat belts and won’t stay buckled up in their seats when the RV is on the move, you might want to consider buying a towable RV.
This way, the children can travel in the truck and spend time in the RV when the vehicle is parked in an RV parking lot.
How Many Seat Belts Are in a Motorhome?
The number of seat belts in a motorhome can vary significantly depending on the design and size of the vehicle. As standard, there are always at least two seat belts – one each for the driver and front passenger.
These are installed the same way as any other vehicle, ensuring maximum safety during transit. For rear passengers, access to seat belts is a crucial safety consideration.
However, these may not always be front-facing and only consist of lap belts. Potential motorhome owners or renters must verify the availability and type of seat belt to ensure all passengers’ safety.
Summary
Understanding and adhering to RV seat belt laws is crucial to ensuring safety while traveling. These regulations differ from state to state in the US, underlining the need for RV users to familiarize themselves with the specific laws in each state.
For instance, California’s stringent laws require all passengers in an RV to use seat belts. At the same time, Arizona allows for more flexibility by not mandating seat belts in the RV’s living areas. Florida and Georgia, on the other hand, insist on seat belts for front seats.
Many states pay particular attention to child safety by enforcing seat belt rules for children. Additionally, as seen in Texas, non-compliance with seat belt laws can lead to financial penalties.
RV manufacturers also play a role in promoting safety by providing guidelines on seat belt usage. Therefore, to ensure safety and remain on the right side of the law, every RV user must be aware of and comply with the prevailing RV seat belt laws.
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