Last reviewed: September 29, 2026
A seat belt ticket is one of the cheapest citations you can get, but the amount and the rules behind it are very different from one state to the next. Below is every state plus D.C. with three things: whether police can stop you for the belt violation alone, who the law covers, and the maximum base fine for a first offense.
How to read the table
- Enforcement. “Primary” means an officer can stop you only because someone is unbelted. “Secondary” means the officer needs another reason to stop the car first, such as speeding, and can then add the belt citation. Some states are primary for the front seat and secondary for the back, or primary only for younger riders.
- Who must buckle. This column shows the ages and seats the adult belt law covers, as listed by IIHS. Younger children are covered by separate child passenger laws.
- Maximum base fine. This is the maximum base fine for a first offense as listed by IIHS. Court costs, state surcharges, and local fees are added on top in most places, so the amount you actually pay can be higher. Where we could not confirm a figure, the row says “Varies/see statute” and links to the law.
Enforcement type and coverage come from the IIHS seat belt and child seat law table (September 2026), checked against GHSA’s state seat belt law summaries. Where GHSA notes primary enforcement for younger riders in a secondary state, we include it.
Seat belt laws and fines: all 50 states and D.C.
| State | Enforcement | Who must buckle (IIHS) | Max. base fine, 1st offense | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Primary (rear seat: secondary) | 15+ years in all seats | $25 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Alaska | Primary | 16+ years in all seats | $15 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Arizona | Secondary | 8+ years in front seat; 8 through 15 in all seats | $10 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Arkansas | Primary | 15+ years in front seat | $25 | IIHS · GHSA |
| California | Primary | 16+ years in all seats | $20 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Colorado | Secondary (primary for under 18) | 18+ years in front seat | $71 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Connecticut | Primary (rear seat, 16+: secondary) | 8+ years in all seats | $50 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Delaware | Primary | 16+ years in all seats | $25 | IIHS · GHSA |
| District of Columbia | Primary | 16+ years in all seats | $50 (points assessed) | IIHS · GHSA |
| Florida | Primary | 6+ years in front seat; 6 through 17 years in all seats | $30 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Georgia | Primary | 8 through 17 years in all seats; 18+ years in front seat | $15 (max $25 if the unbelted rider is 6–18) | IIHS · GHSA |
| Hawaii | Primary | 10+ years in all seats | $45 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Idaho | Secondary (primary for drivers under 18) | 7+ years in all seats | $10 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Illinois | Primary | 16+ years in all seats | $25 (points assessed) | IIHS · GHSA |
| Indiana | Primary | 16+ years in all seats | $25 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Iowa | Primary | 18+ years in front seat | $70 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Kansas | Primary (rear seat, 18+: secondary) | 14+ years in all seats | $60 (ages 14–17); $30 (18+); no court costs | IIHS · GHSA |
| Kentucky | Primary | 7 and younger and more than 57 inches in all seats; 8+ in all seats | $25 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Louisiana | Primary | 13+ years in all seats | $50 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Maine | Primary | 18+ years in all seats | $50 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Maryland | Primary (rear seat: secondary) | 16+ years in all seats | $50 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Massachusetts | Secondary | 13+ years in all seats | $25 (plus $25 per unbelted passenger age 12–15) | IIHS · GHSA |
| Michigan | Primary | 16+ years in front seat | $25 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Minnesota | Primary | 18+ years in all seats | $25 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Mississippi | Primary | 7+ years in all seats | $25 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Missouri | Secondary (primary for children under 16) | 16+ years in front seat | $10 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Montana | Secondary | 10+ years in all seats | $20 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Nebraska | Secondary | 18+ years in front seat | $25 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Nevada | Secondary | 6+ years in all seats | $25 | IIHS · GHSA |
| New Hampshire | No adult seat belt law | Adults: not covered. Under 18: covered by child passenger law | Varies/see statute — no adult law; under-18 rule in RSA 265:107-a | IIHS · GHSA · RSA 265:107-a |
| New Jersey | Primary (rear seat: secondary) | 7 years and younger and more than 57 inches; 8+ in all seats | $20 | IIHS · GHSA |
| New Mexico | Primary | 18+ years in all seats | $25 (points assessed) | IIHS · GHSA |
| New York | Primary | 16+ years in all seats | $50 (points only if a child under 16 is involved) | IIHS · GHSA |
| North Carolina | Primary (rear seat: secondary) | 16+ years in all seats | $25.50 front seat / $10 rear seat | IIHS · GHSA |
| North Dakota | Primary | 18+ years in all seats | $20 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Ohio | Secondary (primary for ages 8–14) | 8 through 14 in all seats; 15+ years in front seat | $30 driver / $20 passenger | IIHS · GHSA |
| Oklahoma | Primary | 9+ years in front seat | $20 (fine plus court costs capped at $20; no points) | IIHS · GHSA · 47 O.S. §12-417 |
| Oregon | Primary | 16+ years in all seats | $115 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Pennsylvania | Secondary (primary for under 18) | 18+ years in front seat | $10 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Rhode Island | Primary | 18+ years in all seats | $40 | IIHS · GHSA |
| South Carolina | Primary | 8+ years in all seats | $25 | IIHS · GHSA |
| South Dakota | Secondary | 18+ years in front seat | $20 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Tennessee | Primary | 16+ years in front seat | $30 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Texas | Primary | 7 years and younger who are 57 inches or taller; 8+ years in all seats | $200 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Utah | Primary | 16+ years in all seats | $45 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Vermont | Secondary (primary for under 18) | 18+ years in all seats | $25 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Virginia | Secondary (primary for under 18) | 18+ years in all seats | $25 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Washington | Primary | 16+ years in all seats | $250 | IIHS · GHSA |
| West Virginia | Primary | 8+ years in front seat; 8 through 17 years in all seats | $25 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Wisconsin | Primary | 8+ years in all seats | $10 | IIHS · GHSA |
| Wyoming | Secondary | 9+ years in all seats | $25 driver / $10 passenger | IIHS · GHSA |
Fines are the maximum base fine for a first offense for the adult belt law, not child restraint violations. Additional fees may apply. Always confirm with the state statute or the court listed on your citation.
What the numbers show
Most states use primary enforcement. GHSA counts 35 states and D.C. with primary laws for front-seat occupants and 14 states with secondary laws. New Hampshire has no adult belt law at all, although its child passenger law covers everyone under 18.
The back seat is covered less often. GHSA counts 42 states, D.C., and 2 territories that enforce rear-seat belt use in some form, and 8 states that do not. Several states that are primary in front, including Alabama, Maryland, New Jersey, and North Carolina, enforce the rear-seat rule only as a secondary offense. Our guide on wearing a seat belt in the back seat covers this in more detail.
Base fines are small. The maximum base fine for a first offense runs from $10 (Arizona, Idaho, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin) to $250 (Washington). Texas ($200) and Oregon ($115) are the only other states above $100 in the IIHS table.
Points are the exception. IIHS flags D.C., Illinois, and New Mexico as assessing license points for belt violations. New York assesses points only when a child under 16 is involved. Oklahoma’s statute, 47 O.S. §12-417, bars points for belt violations and caps the fine plus court costs at $20.
A few states have unusual rules. Massachusetts can fine a driver $25 for each unbelted passenger aged 12 to 15. Wyoming takes $10 off the fine for other traffic violations if the driver was wearing a belt. South Carolina does not allow police to set up checkpoints only to enforce the belt law.
Beyond the fine
The ticket is the smallest cost. NHTSA estimates that a lap/shoulder belt cuts the risk of fatal injury by 45% for front-seat car occupants and by 60% for front-seat light-truck occupants. In 2024, 48% of passenger vehicle occupants killed with known belt use were unbelted. Our article on the consequences of not wearing a seat belt covers the rest of the crash data.
A belt ticket may or may not affect your insurance. Progressive notes that some states treat belt violations as moving violations, which insurers can use in pricing, while others treat them as non-moving. For how long a ticket stays on your insurance, see how long a traffic ticket stays on insurance.
If you got a seat belt ticket
- Read the exact statute on the citation, and note whether you were cited as the driver or as a passenger.
- Check the court’s fine schedule. The base fine in the table does not include court costs or fees.
- Ask the court or your state DMV whether the violation adds points in your state.
- Ask your insurer how it classifies belt violations before you assume it will or won’t affect your premium.
- Pay or contest the ticket by the deadline. An unpaid ticket can lead to extra penalties.
FAQ
Which states have secondary seat belt laws?
According to IIHS and GHSA: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming. Several of them enforce the law as primary for younger riders. New Hampshire has no adult law.
What state has the highest seat belt fine?
In the IIHS table, Washington lists the highest maximum base fine for a first offense, at $250. Texas follows at $200.
Can a passenger get the ticket instead of the driver?
It depends on the state and the passenger’s age. Some states make the driver responsible for younger passengers. Massachusetts, for example, can fine the driver for each unbelted passenger aged 12 to 15. Ohio and Wyoming list different fines for drivers and passengers. Check the statute cited on the ticket.
Sources
- IIHS: Seat belt and child seat laws (September 2026)
- GHSA: Seat Belt Use state laws
- Oklahoma Statutes §47-12-417
- New Hampshire RSA 265:107-a, Child Passenger Restraints Required
- NHTSA: Traffic Safety Facts, 2023 Data, Occupant Protection in Passenger Vehicles
- NHTSA: Overview of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes in 2024
- Progressive: Do tickets affect insurance rates?