Most people are aware of the disasters that can result if they don’t use a seat belt. Still, there are some people who don’t follow the seat belt ticket laws in New York. Because the results of not wearing a seat belt can be devastating, these laws are tightly enforced. And despite the fact that this may seem like a minor offense to you, most Police Officers are willing to dish out the harshest penalties for this lapse in judgment.
In addition, the law for New York child restraints also come with heavy consequences. That’s why My Tickets NYC wants you to know what the seat belt ticket laws in New York are. If you’ve been cited for this offense, you might want to consider talking to our traffic violations attorney to see if we can do something about the fines that these tickets come with.
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Seat Belt Ticket Laws In New York
The law is point blank: you need to be wearing a seat belt at all times. Age, seating position, or type of vehicle do not dictate whether or not a seat belt needs to be on. According to the New York DMV, “In the front seat, the driver and each passenger must wear a seat belt, one person per belt. The driver and front-seat passengers aged 16 or older can be fined up to $50 each for failure to buckle up.”
It also states that it is the driver’s responsibility to make sure all passengers are following the seat belt laws of New York, especially if they are under the age of 16. A driver can be given three traffic violation points and up to $100 in fines for each person in violation of this law.
However, passengers or drivers do not have to wear seat belts if they are in an emergency vehicle, working as a Rural Letter Carrier (mailperson), or if the vehicle is a 1964 or older.
Child Restraints
Child restraints or car seats must be in compliance with the individual child’s height, weight, and other measurements. All children under the age of nine are required to be in a child restraint, along with children under 4’9″ tall, or under 100 pounds.
Here are a few more guidelines for the seat belt ticket laws in New York:
- Every child younger than 16 must be in a safety restraint.
- Every child younger than 4 must be in a federally approved child seat. That seat must be secured to the car by a seat belt. If they weigh more than 40 pounds, you can use a booster seat with a lap and shoulder belt.
- Children ages 4-7 must use a booster seat. These booster seats have to have the lap and shoulder belts or a child safety seat.
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When You Might Need A Traffic Violations Attorney
Each violation can result in a $100 fine. If more than one person is in violation of these laws its multiplied. If five people are not wearing seat belts while you are driving, you can be fined up to $500. Likewise, your driver’s license can accrue 15 points, which can bring on a whole slew of other problems.
A skilled traffic violations attorney will be the only one who can limit these penalties. If you receive a ticket for a child restraint or seat belt tickets violation, My Tickets NYC can help. Contact us today and we will fight to eliminate all of your points and fines.
Call 917-426-2WIN (2946) or email us at info@myticketsnyc.com for a free, non-obligatory consultation. Let us handle your NYS child restraint or seat belt violations in the 5 Boroughs and New Jersey.