Can You Get a Ticket for Not Wearing a Seatbelt in Kentucky?

While traveling the United States, it’s essential to know the traffic laws of each state you visit. You don’t want to get caught speeding and also have to deal with a ticket for texting and driving or not wearing a seat belt. These fines can add up, and telling the officer you were unaware of the law is no excuse. Whether you’re visiting from out of state, a new resident, or a lifelong Kentucky resident, Oxmoor Ford wants you to be informed on if you can get a ticket for not wearing a seat belt in Kentucky.

What Are Seat Belts?

Image via Flickr by State Farm

This question may seem silly because all vehicles nowadays have seat belts, but why? Seat belts are a passive safety device found in vehicles to help prevent injury by securing a person to the vehicle via a strap. The first seat belt law from Jan. 1, 1968, was directed at vehicles and stated that all vehicles, except buses, are required to be outfitted with seat belts. 

Seat belts protect drivers and passengers from serious injuries resulting from car accidents by keeping them inside the vehicle and restrained as much as possible. In 2019, 47% of the 22,215 passenger vehicle occupants killed in an accident were not wearing seat belts.

What Is the Seat Belt Law in Kentucky?

In 2006, Kentucky changed its seat belt law to a primary offense. Being a primary offense means that you can get pulled over for not having a seat belt on, even if that’s the only traffic violation an officer sees. As a driver, you are also responsible for all passengers in the vehicle. If your passengers are adults, they are required to fasten their seat belts while in the front seat. There are currently only two states, Minnesota and Texas, that require adult passengers in the rear seat to wear a seat belt.

Passengers that are below 40 inches tall are required to not only be buckled in but also in a booster seat. The Kentucky law states that any child 8 years of age or younger between 40 inches and 57 inches also needs to be in a booster seat. Any child who is over 57 inches does not have to use a booster seat.

If you are transporting children younger than 4 years who are under 40 inches tall, they should be in an approved car seat. You will want to keep your child in their front-facing car seat until they meet the manufacturer’s recommendations for height and weight for that seat. Also, do not re-use a car seat that has been involved in an accident and check for expiration dates on the car seat. Regulations and guidelines are constantly evolving, so it’s best to have an up-to-date car seat to keep your child safe.

How Much Is the Citation for Not Wearing a Seat Belt?

In Kentucky, the fine cannot exceed more than $25 for not wearing a seat belt. If you do not properly fasten a child in a booster seat, the fine could be $30. Although these are not hefty fines, studies show that wearing a seat belt is worth every penny. If there’s a reason a driver or passenger is unable to wear a seat belt, such as physical or medical conditions, they must provide proof when an officer pulls them over for a seat belt violation.

Seat Belts and Car Accidents

Wearing a seat belt has been proven to reduce the risk of both moderate and fatal injuries. Seat belts are the best safety feature offered in a car, and they provide more safety to drivers and passengers when worn correctly. If you’re not wearing a seat belt and become involved in a car accident, you risk serious injury, including being ejected from the vehicle. Seat belts, along with air bags, help keep you safer in your vehicle when collisions occur by keeping movement to a minimum.

If you’re involved in an accident in which you weren’t wearing a seat belt, the insurance company may try to use this against you. However, Kentucky does not have the Seat Belt Defense that states that a person who is not wearing their seat belt and is subsequently harmed in an auto accident may not recover the full scope of accident-related damages. Kentucky does not support this defense as an option for negligent drivers.

How Do You Properly Fasten a Seat Belt?

Wearing a seat belt can save your life, but making sure you’re properly buckled is just as important. First, you will want to make sure the belt sits below your waist and is snug. If you do not wear the safety belt low enough, you could suffer from a potentially fatal internal injury. The shoulder strap should also be snug across your chest and over your shoulder. You don’t want the strap by your throat or neck. If you neglect to pull the strap tight, you could increase the chance of sliding out of or under the belt. The final thing you want to keep in mind is keeping your seat in an upright position.

A pregnant woman should be sure to wear the seat belt below her abdomen, under the baby, and across her hips. If the seat belt is too short because of the baby, you can reach out to an auto dealer for an extender.

For children in car seats, the seat belt will secure the car seat to the vehicle. Be sure to have it snug so that the car seat doesn’t move, and use a LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system whenever possible. The LATCH system is designed to further secure car seats to the vehicle itself, rather than just the seats.

Children in a booster seat should wear the belt across their lap and chest at the collar bone, not the throat or face. Children should never sit on pillows as a form of positioning them up higher. If a seat belt isn’t available that offers both lap and shoulder restraints, then the lap belt should be tightened as much as possible.

If you’re looking for a vehicle with safety features such as an advanced air bag system and LATCH system to protect your little ones, visit the team at Oxmoor Ford. A knowledgeable, friendly team member will be happy to answer any questions you have about seat belts and safety in our large selection of vehicles.