Seatbelt Legality

[IvelDesigns]

So last month i loaded up the kids and wife into the cab of my truck to head down to the town "Fall Festival". For whatever reason, i was not wearing my seat belt. It's not common for me to not wear it, but, i didn't, and i got pulled over 3 blocks from my house (1 block from the event).

I was at a stop sign when the cop saw me, had my turn signal on, and all of my lights were working. I also was not playing with the air bags, and was at a reasonable ride height. Because of all of this, i was curious why the cop pulled me over.

When I asked, he said it was because i was not wearing my seat belt. Fair enough. So i told the cop that i was pretty sure that vehicles prior to 72 were not required to have seat belts since not all came with them from the factory. I also showed him that I had installed 3 point belts. His response was that if they were in the vehicle, that i must wear them. He also proceeded to say that my two small children could not share the lap belt.

Not to be a guy to argue with a cop, i didn't say anything else, accepted my ticket.... and went to court this morning.

I should add that the ticket he wrote me was for child restraint since i had my two kids sharing the lap belt.

So i walk into court this morning. The county i live in is small, so there were about 6 people there, and a judge. I was first, so i walked up to the judge and she asked how i wanted to plea. I told her that i wasn't sure, but that i was more confused than anything. I explained that I "was under the impression that you were not required to have seat belts in vehicles older than 1972" and that i had installed newer, safer belts, but did not have mine on.

Her response was "I was under the same impression." and she dismissed my ticket. She also said she drove a 64 bug that had no belts in it at all.

Funny thing is, while waiting for court, i asked my wife if we should just go and pay the ticket and skip court. Since i couldn't find any specific law on the internet granting exceptions to pre-72 vehicles, i didn't think i had a leg to stand on. That, and i didn't want to look like an idiot for having two kids in one seat belt. even I can see that's not the safest way to travel.

In the end, I saved myself $83.

Now i need to go find some bucket seats to prevent me from wanting to put all 4 of us in the truck.