Is that illegal?

[Rokcrln]

I know my 70 2wd blazer, 71 SWB, 67 chevelle and my 64 Nova all came with them. In the Nova I found a owners manual explaining how to use them!

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[Boog]

Originally Posted by Shane

That statement probably had more to do with you getting the ticket than the truck not actually having them. Cops are funny like that and usually don't take NO for an answer very well.

I've only been stopped a few times but I have found when I get a cop who has his mind already made up it is often better just to agree with him and go on. I had one once tell me I had to mount my taillamps and license tag higher up on the bed of my truck so he could see them better. Of course I told him they were in the factory location but saw he was set on this. I said ok and went on my way. Never did get around to moving those taillamps, like I really intended to!

[powell72]

Originally Posted by Shane

That statement probably had more to do with you getting the ticket than the truck not actually having them. Cops are funny like that and usually don't take NO for an answer very well.

I couldn't agree more, you usually don't have an upper hand when it comes to getting pulled over. Best thing to do is swallow the pride and say yes sir, no sir.

[timcos]

www.ticketslayer.com

[Sgt.Booya]

You have to remember that the majority of police officers today, especially after 2008 (when a large group retire) were not even born when are 67-72 trucks were. Most are not into old trucks/cars like we are and have only known vehicles to be equipped with lap/shoulder belts. Therefore if the officer did not see a shoulder belt you could see why he/she might conclude that you didn't have your seat belt on.

The best advice I can offer if you get pulled over is NOT to be confrontational, that gets anyones back up. Explain to the officer that your model of vehicle was only equipped with LAP belts not shoulder belts and that you are wearing all the safety equipment available from the factory. After expalining that and if you really don't want to get a ticket (and project yourself to be a decent guy or gal) .....and this is going to sound crazy to some. Thank the officer for stopping you and that you're glad to see he/she is concerned about traffic safety.

If you still get a ticket...fight it. Afterall, you're right. That's the beauty about your judicial system.

Slammed 70...I don't know your State law but I know in Ontario operating a vehicle without a seatbelt on or the factory equipped seat belts removed (lap or whatever) is illegal.

[Longhorn Man]

The problem with the 4 and 5 point harnesses, and the reason they are illegal on the street, is that they are not DOT approved, and 99.9% of the cops... and state inspectors, don't know how to install them, so they can't verify that YOU know what you are doing.
And, another argument, even though you are safer (if installed properly) in an accident, the added restraint could possibly cause an accident being that your movement (looking over your shoulder for example) might be obstructed.
Of course, what you can do, is leave the stock restraints in, and when some one busts your balls about the wiz bang 5 point harness, take it off, and slip on the stock lap belt.
For your own safety, make sure you have those things installed correctly. If they are not right, they will compress your spine in a collision, making you wish you were dead.

[5150]

In Tennessee passenger cars after 62 all had seatbelts in them and trucks after 64 had them. As a former police officer I would never pull anybody over for the seatbelt law if they were driving an older vehicle because they could have their lap belt on. It's just a problem with the seatbelt law that not all officers are taught what vehicles have shoulder belts and which ones don't. I just knew because of my love of old cars.

I would think each jurisdiction and local court would have to have a policy on being pulled over for a seatbelt violation when all you have is lap belts. How did the officer know you didn't have your seatbelt on? Each court would have to deal with that situation and the judge would have to decide it there was enough probable cause/reasonable suspicion to stop that particular vehicle. The judge can't say "well, you still weren't wearing your seatbelt". That's like me stopping a car for no reason and getting lucky that they had 5 pounds of dope in the trunk!!! Then saying well they still had dope in the car.

[TP from Cntl PA]

FWIW, I know of acouple locals who were running '67-'72 GM pickups and were pulled over, although the initial stop the township cop said it was for speeding(Said he was doing 38 in a 35 mph zone ) he only gave him a warning for it though, but the real cause in the owners opinion(And mine) was he wanted to see if he could nail him with the new seat belt law, because he didn't see the shoulder belt, and being a young guy, he thought the driver didn't have it on. Of-course he had the stock lap belt on and was left go on that as well after explaining the truck came new without them(Shoulder belt).

I still have two with lap belts only, and I bet it won't be long before I see lights in my mirror for essentially the same reason(Although they have to use another reason to pull you over).

[SCOTI]

My 74 only has lap belts but there are 3 for all available seating positions. Both of my earlier 67 & 68 have 2 lap-belts only.

That's the one thing about lap belts & getting pulled over for a traffic violation: The police won't have indisputable proof of whether you were or weren't wearing unless there are none in the truck @ all.

I require all under-age passengers to buckle-up. Over 18 & it's your decision.

[alblogg]

Seat belts in my opinion should be left alone to the year of the car or truck just like it was built especially ones being restored to factory originals. I mean who wants to see a '50 Merc with air bags and shoulder harnesses. But to answer any of the questions more I went to the shop and did an inventory on what cars and trucks I have there now working on to see what they had. A '68 Camaro SS lap and shoulder. A '70 GTX lap and shoulder. A '68 GMC C 10 lap belt and my '69 Chevy C10.

[piecesparts]

Next time drive faster, maybe he won't be able to get you then. Oh and by the way, there were 67 Chevy trucks with seatbelts in them.

[Americanrider]

Originally Posted by piecesparts

Next time drive faster, maybe he won't be able to get you then. Oh and by the way, there were 67 Chevy trucks with seatbelts in them.

Yea, I only have 4 1967's in my front yard. The shoulder belts is what I was refering to:

(b) Every passenger car manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1968, shall be equipped with a lap-type safety belt assembly for each permanent passenger seating position. This requirement shall not apply to police vehicles.

[Crummy]

NC Stautes-Exemptions:
» Vehicles not required to have belts. In general, these are cars made before 1968 and light trucks and vans made before 1972. ***I had a printed copy of this in the dash for those "young" cops. My '69 had no seatbelts. Seems you would have to be a truck fan to know a '69 from a '72 which was required to have a seatbelt.

[Longhorn Man]

I find it hard to believe that NC is able to remove federal safety guidlines from the law. I find it vary hard to believe.

[Crummy]

http://www.buckleupnc.org/laws_belts.cfm

[Longhorn Man]

oh I don't doubt thry have it on the books... but federal law prevents states from requireing you to add safety equipment that was not required in the first place.
and after reading that one, it implies that you are not required to have them in 72 and older truck..which again, conflicts with federal law.

[piecesparts]

I realize that "Jacking" with the police is an art, but to make my day easier, I pulled the shoulder belt mounting brackets out of the cab of another and later model truck. I am going to fit them ito the chopped cab of my 68 and make sure that the belt cops leaave me alone. "Speeding" is another story all together.