Michigan's Seatbelt Law: When Did It Come Into Force?

Michigan's seat belt law was passed in 1985, but it was not always so widely accepted. The legislation was proposed in 1982 by Michigan Rep. David Hollister, but it faced bitter opposition from civil liberties advocates and fellow state legislators. Despite the pushback, the law was passed and took effect in July 1985, making it a requirement for drivers and front-seat passengers to buckle up. The law has since been updated, and in 2000, it became a primary enforcement law, meaning police could pull over motorists solely for being unbuckled.

Michigan's primary seat belt law

The law requires drivers and passengers in the front seats to be buckled up, with children younger than four years old riding in a car seat in the rear seat. If there is no rear seat, or the rear seats are occupied by other children, then a child can sit in the front with the airbag deactivated. Children must be properly buckled into a car or booster seat until they are eight years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall, whichever comes first.

Passengers aged eight to fifteen must be buckled up in all seating positions. Michigan's child passenger safety law also states that children between the ages of four and seven who are less than 4 feet 9 inches tall must be secured in a child restraint system.

The fine for not wearing a seatbelt is $65, consisting of a $25 civil fine, $40 justice system assessment, and court costs.

Child passengers and seat belts

Michigan's Child Passenger Safety Law requires children under the age of 4 to be seated in a car seat in the rear of the vehicle. If the vehicle does not have a rear seat, or if all available rear seats are occupied by children under 4, then a child under 4 may ride in the front seat. However, a child in a rear-facing car seat may only be placed in the front if the airbag is deactivated.

Children must be properly buckled into a car seat or booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall. Children must meet the age or height requirement, whichever comes first, before graduating from a car seat or booster seat. It is recommended that children aged 8 and above use an age- and weight-appropriate child safety seat if the vehicle's seat belt does not fit them properly. All children aged 12 and under should ride in the rear of the vehicle.

Drivers, front-seat passengers, and all passengers between the ages of 8 and 15 are required to wear properly adjusted seat belts.

Seat belt usage statistics

In 2023, an observational study revealed that male pickup truck drivers in rural communities had the lowest seat belt usage rates. Counties with the lowest average rates from 2021 to 2023 include Baraga, Keweenaw, Gladwin, Huron, and Calhoun. On the other hand, counties with the highest seat belt usage rates during the same period were Livingston, Ottawa, Eaton, Grand Traverse, Mason, Wexford, and Ogemaw.

Michigan's seat belt laws, which came into effect in 1985, have played a significant role in increasing usage rates. The state's "primary enforcement seat belt law" enacted in 2000 was particularly effective, with usage increasing from 70% to 83.5% within a month. The law allows police officers to stop and fine drivers solely for not wearing a seat belt, with a $65 fine for violation.

Despite the overall high usage rates in Michigan, there is still room for improvement, especially in certain counties and among male pickup truck drivers in rural areas. The state's efforts to increase seat belt usage are crucial, as wearing a seat belt significantly reduces the risk of dying or sustaining severe injuries in a car crash.

The history of seat belt laws in Michigan

In March 1982, Hollister first introduced the idea of a state seat belt law. Over the next three years, several iterations of the legislation were proposed, but none passed. Finally, in January 1985, the state House passed a bill mandating that people wear seat belts, followed by the state Senate in February 1985. The mandatory seat belt law went into effect in July 1985, making Michigan one of the first states in the US to implement such a regulation.

The law's impact on seat belt use in Michigan was significant. Before the law, seat belt usage in the state was below 20%. Shortly after the law was enacted, usage rose to 60%, although it later dropped to 45% before increasing again. In 2009, Michigan achieved an all-time high seat belt usage rate of 97.9%93.3% in 2014.

In March 2000, Michigan's seat belt law was strengthened when not wearing a seat belt was designated as a primary offense, meaning police could pull over motorists solely for being unbuckled. The fine for not wearing a seat belt in Michigan is $65.

Today, Michigan's seat belt law requires drivers and front-seat passengers to be buckled up. Passengers aged 8 to 15 must also buckle up in all seating positions. The state's child passenger safety law mandates that children under the age of 4 ride in a car seat in the rear seat, unless all rear seats are occupied by other young children, in which case they may ride in the front seat with the airbag deactivated. Children must be properly secured in a car seat or booster seat until they turn 8 or reach 4 feet 9 inches in height, whichever comes first.

The penalty for violating seat belt laws

In Michigan, not wearing a seatbelt is a "primary" offense, meaning the police can stop and ticket a driver for not wearing one, even if no other laws have been broken. The fine for violating Michigan's seat belt laws is $65, consisting of a $25 civil fine, $40 justice system assessment, and court costs. Violating the law is a civil infraction, and no points are added to a person's driver's license.

If a driver is injured in a car accident and they were not wearing a seatbelt, this may be considered evidence of negligence and could reduce their recovery for pain and suffering damages from the at-fault driver. However, this cannot reduce their pain and suffering compensation recovery "by more than 5%".

In addition to the financial penalty, those who do not wear seat belts are also at a much greater risk of injury or death in the event of a crash. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seat belts saved an estimated 12,584 lives in the US in 2013. In the same year, 9,580 people who weren't wearing seat belts died in crashes.

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