I hear the safety belt law has changed in South Carolina. How does the new law differ from the previous one?
A. South Carolinas previous safety belt law already required every driver and every occupant of a motor vehicle, when it is being operated on the public streets and highways of this State, to be buckled up. The portion of the law that changed effective December 9, 2005, is the manner in which the law is enforced. South Carolinas previous safety belt law was secondary for persons 18 years of age and older. This meant that a law enforcement officer could not stop a vehicle solely for a violation of the safety belt law unless the driver was 17 years of age or younger. To issue a safety belt citation, the officer must have stopped the vehicle for another violation first. The current primary enforcement safety belt legislation gives law enforcement officers the authority to stop a vehicle solely for a safety belt violation if he/she observes anyone in the vehicle not buckled up. Additionally, the driver of a vehicle is charged with the responsibility of requiring every occupant 17 years of
