What is the new Florida seat belt law?
A new seat belt law goes into effect in Florida on June 30, but state officials are wasting no time in beefing up compliance with the law already in effect. The state’s Click It Or Ticket campaign kicked off Monday and runs through May 31. Gov. Charlie Crist signed a bill May 6 that allows law enforcers to stop a car if they observe a driver or front seat passenger who is not buckled up. It supplements the current law, which only allows officers to administer a ticket for seat belt use after stopping a driver for a separate offense, such as speeding or a busted tail light. During the two-week safety campaign, state and local law enforcement agencies are conducting public awareness efforts and workshops to encourage seat belt use and conduct training on child passenger safety and safety seat installation. “The proper use of a safety belt is the single most important action one can take to increase the chances of surviving a vehicle crash,” said Sgt. Chris Gonzalez, with the Collier Coun
If you don’t already do so, you better buckle up next time you get in your car. Florida’s new mandatory seat belt law goes into affect at midnight and that means drivers who don’t click it can get a ticket. The new law, signed by Gov. Charlie Crist in May, toughens the state’s seat belt rules. It allows police to pull over drivers who aren’t wearing their seat belts. Under previous law, drivers could only get a seat belt citation if they were pulled over for another violation. Motorists can be ticketed if either they or their front seat passengers fail to buckle up. All passengers under 18 also are required to wear seat belts regardless of where they are sitting. The penalty is a $30 fine plus administrative and court costs. The National Highway Safety Administration has estimated the new law will save 124 lives and prevent 1,733 serious injuries in Florida every year. Most state laws go into effect on July 1, the first day of the new budget year, or on Oct. 1, the start of the fiscal
