Teenagers who aren’t wearing their seat belts after Jan. 1 risk getting pulled over and facing a hefty fine.
The seat belt law was changed on July 1, 2007, to require all drivers and passengers ages 14 to 17 to wear their seat belts at all time regardless of where they are seated in a vehicle in motion.
Law enforcement officers only issued warnings from July 1 to Dec. 31, 2007, for teen seat belt violations. But on Jan. 1, that will change. Not only will officers be able to write tickets for these violations, the law becomes a primary law, meaning a vehicle can be stopped on a seat belt violation alone. The fine will be $60 including court costs.
“Seat belts save lives,” said Kansas Highway Patrol Superintendent Colonel William R. Seck. “It’s that simple. Highway patrol troopers are dedicated to saving lives through enforcement and education. Recent amendments to our seat belt law demonstrate the state’s commitment to protecting the lives of our teens.”
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens ages 15 to 18. This change in the seat belt law is aimed to protect this age group.
“It takes five seconds or less to buckle your seat belt, which could make the difference of a lifetime,” Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Deb Miller said. “Positive habits instilled in us as children follow us through our teen years and into adulthood. Adults should lead children by example by buckling up every trip, every time they ride in a vehicle and by asking other adults to do the same.”
The law
Starting Tuesday, all drivers and passengers between the ages of 14 and 17 must wear seat belts. Violators may be stopped and ticketed.
create (anonymous) says...
I like this law. It only makes sense. When my grand kids were little and forgot to buckle up, I'd pretend that the car wouldn't start. "Looks like we'll have to stay home," I'd say. "Can't you try again?" they'd beg. Finally I'd say, "Try buckling your seatbelt this time, maybe that's what's wrong." They'd buckle up and voila! The car would start. Now that they are older and forget, all I have to say is "Uh oh, car won't start." They raise their eyes and sigh heavily, but at least they buckle up. I've already told them that I won't feel sorry for them if they get a ticket.
December 27, 2007 at 2:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
smith_ron (anonymous) says...
I agree that seat belts save lives and think that everyone should wear them. I am curious why motorcycle riders don't have to wear a helmit. Can't the argument for seat belts also be applied to helmets?
December 27, 2007 at 2:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
landofoz (anonymous) says...
I think that the law should apply for anyone under the age of 18. But it should be a choice if you are over 18. It is my life I should be able to choose to wear one or not. I would rather be dead that to lose my legs or be paralized and live from using a seat belt (that is just an extreme example which most of the time in a accident will not happen but there is always the chance) This is a free country why not give adults the Freedom to chose wheather to wear them or not. And the helmet thing is the same I have a Motorcycle also I wear my helmet when I go out on the highway because the road/wind noise is so darn annying that I like the helmet then. But around town there is no need for one. But in the middle of the summer when it is 100 degress out who the heck wants to wear a helmet? Why don't you try driving around in the summer with your windows down in your car with no A/C and wear a beenie (stocking cap) and see how much you like it.
December 27, 2007 at 3:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MelissaE (anonymous) says...
"But in the middle of the summer when it is 100 degress out who the heck wants to wear a helmet? Why don't you try driving around in the summer with your windows down in your car with no A/C and wear a beenie (stocking cap) and see how much you like it."
I knew these excuses would come up sooner or later. They always do.
Here's why you should wear your seatbelt: So your rescuers don't have to scrape your body off the tar with some sort of tool.
Here's why you should wear your helmet on your motorcycle: So those same rescuers don't have to scrape your grey matter (brain pieces) off the tar when you hit a bump or sand or grooved pavement with no warning.
Don't wear them for yourself. Wear them for everyone else.
Oh--and I did drive my black car with no A/C around for almost two years--in Oklahoma. Which is even hotter than Kansas.
Guess what? I'm still alive.
Melissa
December 27, 2007 at 4:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
landofoz (anonymous) says...
Did you have a beenie on? I am sure I would live but I wouldn't be comfortable. I want to ride free like an eagle with the wind in my face yeah baby ain't america great.
December 27, 2007 at 5:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
Why don't people police themselves and quit trying to dictate other's lives? You like and support the use of seatbelts and motorcycle helmets, by all means use them proudly and teach your kids to use them as well. You don't like alcohol or tobacco, don't buy either, don't use either, teach your children your feelings so they can feel the same way you do. You don't want to own guns, don't wish to hunt and fish, you don't want to have a couch on your front porch, then don't and be sure to teach your family your ways.
Me and my family use our seatbelts. If I had a motorcycle I would most likely use a helmet, but I'll be darned if it's any of my business or anyone else's whether or not they chose to use such items.
December 27, 2007 at 5:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporialifer (anonymous) says...
Question - who gets fined? The person in that age range not wearing their seatbelt or the person driving the car (even if the driver has their seatbelt on)? I'm just curious if anyone knows because I've heard it both ways, but never took the time to find out which is true.
December 28, 2007 at 2:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MelissaE (anonymous) says...
emporialifer, I don't know. That's a great question, though. I would be quite okay if every person in the car was fined. :) Imagine the amount of money the city could make in such a short time.
neighbor--if people could police themselves, LMAO, we wouldn't need jails.
It's a judgment call and I think you are stupid to not wear leathers & a helmet on your motorcycle or a seatbelt in a car. But then again, if we all had judgment, we wouldn't need jails, emergency rooms or ambulances.....or laws.
Melissa
December 29, 2007 at 12:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
Would be a crying shame not to need those facilities wouldn't it? I know I could sure use the tax savings to better my life rather than paying for other people's mistakes and error in judgement.
December 29, 2007 at 2:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
"But around town there is no need for one." Around town is exactly when you need a helmet. More than ever. More traffic making turns, talking on cell phones, slowing down, speeding up, driving erratically, etc. Not much of this out on the highway. If you have ever seen a serious mc wreck like I did on the street corner in front of my house, you'd wear your helmet in town. This guys scalp was peeled completely back. His helmet was there all right-- buttoned to the back of the motorcycle seat, and the wind was no longer in his face, it was blowing the new mown grass all over his freshlly uncovered skull. "yeah baby, ain't america great."
December 29, 2007 at 9:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
glarson (anonymous) says...
Emporia lifer:
Here's the answer to your question about who actually is fined, courtesy of a press release Dec. 31 from the Kansas Department of Transportation:
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Under the state’s amended primary seat belt law, passengers from 14 through 17 years of age who fail to wear a seat belt are subject to a $60 fine – same as drivers of the same ages who fail to wear a seat belt.
The amended Safety Belt Use Act, which allows law enforcement officers to stop cars solely for seat belt violations by occupants under 18, took effect July 1, 2007. Fines for the seat belt infractions take effect Jan. 1, 2008.
Some news reports about the amended law have incorrectly stated that only the driver is subject to being cited if any occupants are in violation of the law.
“It’s important that everyone 14 through 17 years of age knows they can be cited and fined if they aren’t buckled in. We want everyone to be as safe as possible when riding in a car, whether they are the driver or a passenger,” said Pete Bodyk, Chief of the Bureau of Traffic Safety, Kansas Department of Transportation.
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Gwen Larson
Managing Editor
January 2, 2008 at 7:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporialifer (anonymous) says...
Thank you for that follow up Gwen. Glad to know I won't be held responsible for some else's personal decision. I know I can tell even my parents to put on their seat belts until I'm blue in the face, but I can't force them to wear it. Then again - if the drivers were fined we might have a lot of cars on the side of the road waiting for the passenger to put their seatbelt on - I'm sure that is how my mom would have handled it. I can hear her now "this car is not moving until you put your seat belt on". :)
January 2, 2008 at 1:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
slipandslide (anonymous) says...
good the respnsiblity lands on the passenger who isnt wearing a seat belt,thats the way it should be. i also have a car that wont go anywhere if the seatbelts are not one, my kid that he was being smart the other day, he took off his seat belt while we were driving, then he slid forward in the seat so he could tell me something, first thing i said to him was ' are you still wearing your seatbelt?' he lied , so i asked how could he be sitting forward in the seat if he was wearing a belt? there was a long pause, then i heard the seatbelt being put on. seatbelts save lives and only take a few seconds to put on.
January 2, 2008 at 7:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )