$25.00

Q2. I have an older vehicle; is it required to have a seat belt?

NRS 484.641

1. It is unlawful to drive a passenger car manufactured after:

(a) January 1, 1968, on a highway unless it is equipped with at least two lap-type safety belt assemblies for use in the front seating positions.

(b) January 1, 1970, on a highway, unless it is equipped with a lap-type safety belt assembly for each permanent seating position for passengers. This requirement does not apply to the rear seats of vehicles operated by a police department or sheriff’s office.

(c) January 1, 1970, unless it is equipped with at least two shoulder-harness-type safety belt assemblies for use in the front seating positions.

Rule of thumb: If your vehicle was originally equipped with safety belts, they must be in good working order and must be used.

Q3. If my seat belt has a separate lap and shoulder belt, do I have to use both?

Yes.

Q4. Can a child or other person ride in the bed of my pickup?

No one under age 18 is allowed to ride on a flatbed or in the bed of a pickup truck unless the motor vehicle is:

(1) Being used in the course of farming or ranching; or

(2) Being driven in a parade authorized by a local authority.

Q5. Are there any exemptions to the seat belt law?

Yes, exemptions apply to the following:

(a) To a driver or passenger who possesses a written statement by a physician certifying that he is unable to wear a safety belt for medical or physical reasons;

(b) If the vehicle is not required by federal law to be equipped with safety belts;

(c) To an employee of the United States Postal Service while delivering mail in the rural areas of this state;

(d) If the vehicle is stopping frequently, the speed of that vehicle does not exceed 15 miles per hour between stops and the driver or passenger is frequently leaving the vehicle or delivering property from the vehicle; or

(e) To a passenger riding in a means of public transportation (except a taxi*), school bus or emergency vehicle. [*Taxi exemption was voided as of June 2003.]

Q6. Are there any points assigned to my driving record for a seat belt or child seat violation?

No.

Q7. Can I be issued a citation (ticket) for no seat belt for other people in my car?

Yes. If the passenger is a child over age six or weighs over sixty pounds, the driver will be issued a citation for not requiring that child to wear a safety belt. If both the driver and child are not wearing safety belts, only one citation may be issued to the driver for both violations.

However, if the passenger is an adult (18 years or older), that passenger will be issued a citation. If both the driver and adult passenger are not wearing safety belts, each of them will receive a citation.

Q8. Do persons in a camper or motor home have to wear safety belts?

Persons in the driving compartment must use safety belts. Persons in the living area should use restraints if there are restraints available.

Q9. I am too large for my seat belt. What can I do?

Seat belt extenders are available for most domestic vehicles for a fee. Take the information on the seat belt label along with your vehicle to the parts department of your local dealer. Extenders are not interchangeable, so go to the dealer for your particular vehicle. If you have trouble getting service from the dealer, try another dealer or call the customer assistance number listed in your owner's manual. Check your owner's manual for an explanation of these seat belt systems.

Q10. Why aren't school buses required to have seat belts?

Basically, the structural design and 'compartmentalization' of school buses (narrow seat spacing and energy absorbent high back seats) reduces the risk of injury from a crash. School buses must meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards more stringent than those of other passenger vehicles. Buses are larger and heavier than most other vehicles:

1) crash forces are distributed throughout the vehicle differently

2) Crash forces experienced by occupants are different

Buses are also a lower-risk form of travel and are more conspicuous. Lastly, buses are inherently and statistically safer than riding in family passenger vehicles. In 2001, passenger cars were involved in 47 percent of all traffic crashes; whereas school buses were involved in only .02 percent of all fatal traffic crashes. Children are injured more OUTSIDE of the bus (getting on and off) than inside the bus.

See the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's web site for a more detailed answer to this question: www.nhtsa.dot.gov .

Q1. How do I know if my child is riding in the right car seat?

Nevada law requires that the child be restrained in a car seat* that:

1) meets all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS); look for labeling on the seat itself

2) is appropriate for the size and weight of the child; look for labeling on the seat itself. Different seats have different height and weight limits.

3) is installed in the vehicle per the car seat manufacturer's instructions. Refer to your vehicle owner's manual as well, the "Occupant Restraints" or "Child Seats" section.

*car seat = infant seat, forward-facing toddler seat, booster seat, specialized harness restraint system, or any device that is designed for use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat or position children; this includes integrated child seats within the vehicle itself

The 'best' car seat for your child is the one that fits your child and fits your vehicle

Q2. What is the fine for failure to have your child secured in a safety seat?

As of June 2004 the fine is $50.00 to $500.00 OR 8 to 50 hours of community service. The violator MUST also attend a court-assigned 2-hour education program on the proper selection and installation of child safety seats. Proof of purchase will no longer waive the citation.

Q3. Are children under age 12 required to ride in the back seat?

No. However, it is safest for any adult or child passenger to ride buckled up in the back seat, if a back seat is available (ie, pick-up trucks).

Q4. When can my child graduate to a seat belt only?

When you can answer "Yes" to all five of these questions:

1) Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?

2) Does the child sit with hips all the way back against the auto seat?

3) Is the lap belt on the top part of the thighs (not on the tummy)?

4) Is the shoulder belt centered on the shoulder and chest (not on the neck)?

5) Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

OTHER MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION REGARDING SAFETY BELTS and CHILD SEATS IN MOTOR VEHICLES:

□ One person per belt

□ Keep lap belts low and snug across the thighs (on the hip bones, not on soft vulnerable parts of the body)

□ Do not place the shoulder portion of the safety belt behind your back or under the arm. This prevents the safety belt from working properly and could cause severe injuries

□ Always use a seat belt, even if you have an air bag. Air bags are designed to work WITH the seat belt in protecting you

□ Always replace a child's car seat if it has been involved in a collision, even a minor fender bender in the parking lot

□ Child safety seats are found to reduce fatal injuries by 71% for infants (less than 1 year of age) and 54% for toddlers in passenger cars

□ Lap and shoulder belts, when used, reduce the risk of fatal injury to front seat passenger car occupants by 45% and the risk of moderate to critical injury by 50%