Cecily Zamora
Indiana has a standard or primary seat belt law, which means that anyone over a certain age must wear a seat belt when riding in a moving vehicle. If not, they can be stopped and ticketed for failing to wear one. This law is in place to protect individuals in the event of a crash and to reduce the chances of severe injuries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of enforcement | February 24, 2023 |
| Type of enforcement | Primary |
| Applicable to | All drivers and passengers over the age of 16 |
| Fine for non-compliance | $25 for a first offense |
| Age under which children must be secured in an age- and size-appropriate child safety seat or booster seat | 12 |
What You'll Learn
Indiana's primary seat belt law
Indiana has a standard or primary seat belt law, which means that anyone found not wearing a seat belt can be stopped and ticketed. This applies to both front and back-seat passengers. Under Indiana law, anyone aged 12 and older riding in a moving vehicle must wear a seat belt. For children under 12, Indiana requires drivers to secure them in an age- and size-appropriate child safety seat or booster seat.
The primary seat belt law in Indiana is an important piece of legislation, as it has been shown that seat belts save lives and reduce serious crash-related injuries and deaths. In addition, people are more likely to wear seat belts when they are legally required to do so and are aware that they could be ticketed and fined for not wearing one. As a result, Indiana's primary seat belt law helps to ensure that motorists and their passengers are protected in the event of a crash.
There are some exemptions to Indiana's seat belt law. For example, vehicle occupants do not have to wear seat belts if the vehicle does not have seat belts that meet federal standards or in impractical situations, such as when a patient is riding in an ambulance. In addition, certain professionals, such as postal workers and people involved in occupational farming, may be exempt from the law while driving under specific conditions.
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Seat belt compliance
Indiana has a standard or primary seat belt law, which means that anyone over the age of 16 not wearing a seat belt can be stopped and ticketed for a $25 fine. This applies to both front and back-seat passengers. The state's primary seat belt law means that a police officer can pull a driver over and issue a ticket for not wearing a seat belt without any other traffic offence having taken place. Indiana law also dictates that children under 12 must be secured in an age- and size-appropriate child safety seat or booster seat.
Indiana's seat belt laws may not apply in certain situations, such as when riding in an ambulance, or for people who make frequent stops while travelling at slow speeds, like postal workers. People riding in vehicles used for farming are also exempt from the law.
Seat belt laws are effective in reducing car crash deaths. One study found that mandatory seat belt laws reduced traffic fatalities in youths by 8% and serious traffic-related injuries by 9%. Primary seat belt laws are more effective at reducing crash deaths than secondary laws, where a police officer can only issue a ticket for not wearing a seat belt if there is another citable traffic infraction.
The CDC estimates that seat belts reduce serious crash-related injuries and deaths by about half. In 2014, seat belts saved over 12,000 lives. People are more likely to wear seat belts when they are legally required to do so and could be fined. In primary offense states, 91% of drivers wear a seat belt, compared to 79% in secondary offense states.
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Child restraint laws
Indiana's child restraint laws are designed to protect young passengers and reduce the number of fatal crashes. The state takes the safety of children in vehicles very seriously, and there are strict guidelines in place to ensure they are correctly buckled up.
Indiana law requires infants and small children who do not fit a car's standard seat to be secured in a car seat that meets federal safety standards. The type of seat and its position in the car must be appropriate for the child's age and body size. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends replacing child safety seats or booster seats after a moderate or severe crash, as the seats may be damaged and no longer offer complete protection.
The guidelines for infants and children in Indiana are as follows:
- Babies from birth to 12 months must ride in a rear-facing car seat.
- Children aged 1 to 3 years should remain in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the maximum height and weight limit. After this, they can move to a forward-facing car seat with a three-point harness.
- Children aged 4 to 7 years must stay in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until they reach the height and weight limit. Once they outgrow this, they can use a booster seat, which repositions the car's safety belt to fit them correctly.
- Children aged 8 to 12 years should use a booster seat until they are big enough for the vehicle's seat belt to fit properly. The lap belt should sit across the upper thighs, not the stomach, and the shoulder belt should lie across the shoulder and chest, not the neck or face.
Indiana's laws also recommend that children under 13 sit in the back seat of the vehicle, even if they have outgrown booster seats.
The state's primary seat belt law means that a police officer can pull over a driver and issue a ticket if a child is found unrestrained. The driver can be held responsible for the violation, and there may be penalties.
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Seat belt exemptions
Indiana has a primary seat belt law, which means that law enforcement officers can stop and ticket drivers and passengers for not wearing a seat belt, without needing to observe another traffic violation.
However, there are some exemptions to the law. For example, occupants of a vehicle are not required to wear a seat belt if the vehicle does not have seat belts that meet federal standards. There are also certain situations where wearing a seat belt may be impractical or impossible, such as when a patient is riding in an ambulance. In these cases, seat belts are not mandatory.
Indiana Code 9-19-10-1 outlines specific exemptions to the seat belt law. These include:
- Occupants of a commercial or United States Postal Service vehicle who are making frequent stops for the delivery of goods or services
- Occupants of a vehicle participating in a parade
- Occupants in the living quarters of a recreational vehicle
- Occupants of a truck being used on a farm for agricultural purposes
In addition, adults or children with a medical certificate stating that it would be impractical for them to wear a seat belt due to a physical or mental condition are also exempt from the law.
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Penalties for non-compliance
Indiana has a standard or primary seat belt law, which means that anyone over the age of 16 not wearing a seat belt can be stopped, inspected, or fined. This applies to both front and back-seat passengers. The penalty for non-compliance is a $25 fine for a first offense, although the penalty may be greater if the passenger is under 12.
Indiana's primary seat belt law means that a police officer can pull a driver over and issue a ticket for not wearing a seat belt without needing any other reason to suspect a traffic offense. This is in contrast to secondary enforcement laws, which are in place in some other states, where an officer can only issue a ticket for not wearing a seat belt if there is another citable traffic infraction.
Indiana takes the safety of young passengers very seriously. The state's laws require that infants and small children who are not big enough for a car's standard seat be secured in a car seat that meets all federal safety standards. Children under 1 year should always ride in a rear-facing car seat, and children under 8 have even more restrictive restraint laws. Children from 8 to 12 must use a child restraint or seat belt in all seating positions in all vehicles.
Indiana law holds the driver responsible for ensuring that all passengers under the age of 18 are properly restrained. A driver may face penalties if a minor passenger is found not to be wearing a seat belt. However, there are some exemptions to Indiana's seat belt laws. For example, vehicle occupants do not have to wear seat belts if the vehicle doesn't have seat belts that meet federal standards, or in impractical situations, such as when a patient is riding in an ambulance.
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Frequently asked questions
Indiana has a standard or primary seat belt law, meaning you can be stopped and ticketed for failing to wear a seat belt. This law has been in place since at least 2019.
The law applies to all drivers and passengers over the age of 16. Children under 12 must be secured in an age- and size-appropriate child safety seat or booster seat.
Yes, there are a few limited circumstances where the law may not apply. For example, occupants of a vehicle without seat belts that meet federal standards are exempt. Additionally, people in impractical situations, such as patients in an ambulance, may not have to wear seat belts.
