Shoulder belt question...

[GMCjunkie]

I got pulled over yesterday. When I asked the officer what I had done, he said,,"You werent wearing your seatbelt".. I informed him that I was indeed wearing my lap belt, he pointed to my shoulder belts (which are folded up still like brand new and never used).. Now, I told him what I thought was true, being that the shoulder belts were an option on our trucks, that anything before '73 were not required to have shoulderbelts. Was I correct?? He didnt know for sure either. He said that he thought it was '60 something. Well after he oogled over my truck for a few minits.. he didnt give me a ticket. Was I correct about the year and the shoulder belts?? Some one please correct me if IM wrong.
thanks
junk

[70short/step]

Here is California, If your truck has em, you have to wear em!

[jef5150]

if "your"shoulder belts came "factory original"....option or not you are required to wear them,,,,,,,,,,,

[71swb4x4]

Seatbelt laws are state mandated, so it will depend on Georgia's specific wording of the law.

[cdowns]

in florida if you've got them installed you've got to use them

[casey]

I think if you have them you have to wear them, and Jodie I think it was more than the truck why you got off the ticket

[PanelDeland]

Most states have it wordeed where "if you have them you have to wear them".
I haven't checked this in Ga so you might want to run a web search and check.

[tom hand]

I'm sure the actual law varies from state to state BUT that is irrelevant...if you don't have the shoulder belt on you will get pulled over. The cops don't really know the law, so some won't be so nice and write you a ticket anyway...and it will be your problem to go to court and prove you are right. You might want to pull your factory ones and stash them...(or sell them for big bucks) and get some cheap ones that are easier to get on and off for daily use. I just installed shoulder belts in my truck for this very reason.

[ckenwright]

Here in Vegas if ou have them installed, you have to wear them. My truck only came with the lap-belts and I'm always questioned about them on base. But I pulled the little plugs where there normally would be shoulder belts and found threads. So I am going to install some good shoulder units.

[Rod]

I'll take of your problem...just box up those troublesome shoulder belts and send them up here. You wont have to wear them then.

[1972C10]

Yeah sometimes cops are stupid whenn it comes to older trucks

I was pulled over once by a state trooper He got my lic. and ins ran it and come back with a ticket for me to sign For no seatbelt

I asked him why he is giving me a ticket i was wearing my belt he then said

" i didnt see it draped across your shoulder when i meet you on the road"

So i replied Be kinda hard to wear a lap belt across my shoulder. He just kinda turned red and said have a good day ..

[Hooter]

ya got that all the time with m 74 Cheyenne, cop pulls me over' asks if I knew why he pulled me over, said I wasn't wearing a seat belt, notices my truck only had lap belts, and left me alone

[Rod]

Yeah I suppose they will be doing that more up here now... as of Jan 1 the fine went up to $230 and 2 drivers license demerit points for not wearing a seat belt. 6 points in total and you can lose your drivers license.

[GMCjunkie]

Thanks for the replies. Ive been pulled over a couple times since Ive had my truck, and no ones ever said anything. Not in Ca and not here in Ga. Was at City hall and the police station is right next to it. The officers were out in the parking lot, came and looked in my truck, never said anything either. Where would I look online to find this out for sure??
And just out of curiosity, I know the factory shoulder belts are rare, but, how much are they worth, not that im gonna sell them, just curious.
thanks.
junk

[Bill72BB]

See if the Georgia Vehicle code is on line if not you will probably be able to look at one at a library or local PD .

Jodie this looks promising
http://www.rmis.rmfamily.com/sites/statega-ge.php

[tom hand]

Did a lot of searching, but could not find the actual law...But Georgia's 'Buckle Up Or Pay Up' campaign is making them lots of bucks. They are also a "primary" law state which means the cop can pull you over for not wearing your seat belt only...lots of states are still "secondary" which means they can ticket you for it only when they pull you over for another volation. The states have found a new source of income with seat belt laws so you might as well get used to it.

http://www.nsc.org/partners/abcgaco.htm

http://www.highwaysafety.org/safety_...s/restrain.htm

http://www.hwysafety.org/safety_fact.../restrain3.htm


http://www.cordeledispatch.com/artic...126gspseat.txt

http://www.gohs.state.ga.us/Public_I...ase_121500.htm

[jimfulco]

You might find more than you ever wanted to know here:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/states/georgia.html

[VTKidder]

I just think it's cool you backed up your claim with year and option info to the 5-0. Well played.

[Huck]

Original shoulder belts, depending on color and condition, would start in the hundreds. Like $200. for decent set and go up from there. I would not sell them till I hear that reporductions become available then I would stick them on e-bay with like a $500. reserve. Just my .02
Now as far as wearing them, I believe that if you got them and the state law calls for wearing them, you could get a ticket for not wearing them (option or no option).
There used to be a great commercial in Illinois for the State Police where this big old State Trooper is walking down the interstate with his DI hat on. He starts to say "it happend here about x year ago and she would have been 18 by now-----you know, I've never unbuckled a dead person" SEAT BELTS SAVE LIVES!!!!
Now we could argue the infringement on freedom like biker helmets etc. but----the facts speak for themselves.
I personally tried to save 5 guys who lost control of their Van coming back from a fishing trip--driver fell asleep. They were spralled out all over the field next to the Long Island Expressway. The van was sitting upwright--not even looking damaged except for the windows out. They were all thrown out of the windows when the thing rolled over and over. Two died from internal injuries---i just ran from one to the other trying to render first aid. There would have been NO serious injuries if they were belted in.
Sorry for the preaching but----don't want to loose any of you-all~~~Huck

[dubie]

Up here, whatever seat belts you have in your vehicle, they must be worn. Whether it's a lap, shoulder or a 2 piece combo. They would have ticketed you for sure

[whitesswj]

I'm a state vehichle (oh how ever you spell it) safety inspector for the state of Missouri and anything made after '71 has to have a Seat belt not shoulder strap. My '68 it was an option to even get the seat belts so, I have none. MO state law states, if you got 'em, wear 'em!

[lewi]

I'm with Huck. Wear them for your own saftey. I just bought the shoulder belts from Ricks and will be installing them. Just in case something happens, I don't think the steering wheel would taste very good.

[Cat Fuzz]

I'm still waiting to get pulled over for it. My truck only has lap belts and they just made it a primary law here in Washington.

[Blue Beard]

According to the parts books, the burbs were the only ones equiped with the shoulder belts.

And by most standards that means its equiped and needs to be worn.

I would look on your state laws for the terms they use.

Washington law states if original equip in one area. But under the terms of another section they list beyond the years.

I talked with the local WSP on the same issue. His response was that he tries to consider the age of the vehicle.

After the 3rd stop, I'll consider it harassment.............