New Hampshire is the only state with no law requiring adults to wear seat belts in a vehicle (those under 17 still have to) and as a result has the lowest set belt usage in the United States at 67.6%.
The rest use either primary or secondary enforcement.
The difference between primary and secondary enforcement for seat belt laws relates to how police officers can enforce seat belt use:
1. Primary Enforcement:
In states with primary seat belt laws, law enforcement officers can stop and ticket a driver or passenger for not wearing a seat belt as a stand-alone violation. This means the officer doesn’t need any other reason to pull the vehicle over.
Example: If an officer sees you driving without a seat belt, they can stop you and issue a ticket specifically for the seat belt violation, even if you’re not committing any other offense.
2. Secondary Enforcement:
In states with secondary seat belt laws, law enforcement officers can only issue a ticket for not wearing a seat belt if the driver has been pulled over for another violation, such as speeding or running a stop sign. The seat belt violation cannot be the primary reason for the stop.
Example: If you’re caught speeding and the officer notices you’re not wearing a seat belt, they can add the seat belt violation to the ticket, but they can’t stop you solely for the seat belt infraction.
Primary enforcement generally leads to higher rates of seat belt use because the threat of being pulled over for that reason alone increases compliance.
Here’s a full list by state:
| State/Federal District/Territory | Type of Law | Date of First Law | Who is Covered | Base Fine Before Fees | Seat Belt Usage (2017) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Primary Enforcement | July 18, 1991 | All ages in all seats | $25 | 92.90% |
| Alaska | Primary Enforcement | September 12, 1990 | All ages in all seats | $15 ($25 actual) | 90.10% |
| American Samoa | Primary Enforcement | — | All ages in front seats | $25 | 84.90% |
| Arizona | Secondary Enforcement | January 1, 1991 | All ages in front seats; under age 16 in all seats | $10 ($37.20 actual) | 86.10% |
| Arkansas | Primary Enforcement | July 15, 1991 | All ages in front seats; under age 16 in all seats | $25 | 81.00% |
| California | Primary Enforcement | January 1, 1986 | All ages in all seats | $20 ($162 actual); $50 second offense ($190 actual) | 96.20% |
| Colorado | Secondary Enforcement (Primary in Mountain View) | July 1, 1987 | All ages in front seats; under age 18 in all seats | $71 | 83.80% |
| Connecticut | Primary Enforcement | January 1, 1986 | All ages in all seats | $92 | 90.30% |
| Delaware | Primary Enforcement | January 1, 1992 | All ages in all seats | $25 | 91.40% |
| District of Columbia | Primary Enforcement | December 12, 1985 | All ages in all seats | $50 | 93.60% |
| Florida | Primary Enforcement | July 1, 1986 | All ages in front seats; under age 18 in all seats | $30 ($116 actual) | 90.20% |
| Georgia | Primary Enforcement | July 1, 1996 | All ages in front seats; under age 18 in all seats | $15 | 97.10% |
| Guam | Primary Enforcement | — | All ages in all seats | $100 | 91.00% |
| Hawaii | Primary Enforcement | December 16, 1985 | All ages in all seats | $45 ($112 actual) | 96.90% |
| Idaho | Secondary Enforcement | July 1, 1986 | All ages in all seats | $10 ($51.50 actual) | 81.20% |
| Illinois | Primary Enforcement | January 1, 1988 | All ages in all seats | $164 minimum fine | 93.80% |
| Indiana | Primary Enforcement | July 1, 1987 | All ages in all seats | $25 | 93.00% |
| Iowa | Primary Enforcement | July 1, 1986 | All ages in front seats; under 18 in rear seats | $25 ($127.50 actual) | 91.40% |
| Kansas | Primary Enforcement | July 1, 1986 | Age 14+ in all seats | $60 for age 14–17; $10 for 18+ | 82.00% |
| Kentucky | Primary Enforcement | July 15, 1994 | Age 7 and younger over 57 in (140 cm) in all seats; 8+ in all seats | $25 | 86.80% |
| Louisiana | Primary Enforcement | July 1, 1986 | Age 13+ in front seats | $25 | 87.10% |
| Maine | Primary Enforcement | December 26, 1995 | Age 18+ in all seats | $50 | 88.90% |
| Maryland | Primary Enforcement | July 1, 1986 | Age 16+ in all seats | $83 | 92.10% |
| Massachusetts | Secondary Enforcement | February 1, 1994 | Age 13+ in all seats | $25 | 73.70% |
| Michigan | Primary Enforcement | July 1, 1985 | Age 16+ in front seats; under 16 in rear seats | $25 ($65 actual) | 94.10% |
| Minnesota | Primary Enforcement | August 1, 1986 | Age 7 and younger over 57 in (140 cm) in all seats; 8+ in all seats | $25 + $75 fee | 92.00% |
| Mississippi | Primary Enforcement | July 1, 1994 | Age 7+ in all seats | $25 | 78.80% |
| Missouri | Secondary Enforcement | September 28, 1985 | Age 16+ in front seats; age 8–15 in all seats | $10 for age 16+; $50 for age 8–15 | 84.00% |
| Montana | Secondary Enforcement | October 1, 1987 | Age 6+ in all seats | $20 | 78.00% |
| Nebraska | Secondary Enforcement | January 1, 1993 | Age 18+ in front seats | $25 | 85.90% |
| Nevada | Secondary Enforcement | July 1, 1987 | Age 6+ in all seats | $25 | 90.60% |
| New Hampshire | None for adults, primary for minors only | August 18, 1997 | Age 17 and under in all seats | $50 | 67.60% |
| New Jersey | Primary Enforcement | March 1, 1985 | Age 8+ in all seats | $46 per person | 94.10% |
| New Mexico | Primary Enforcement | January 1, 1986 | Age 18+ in all seats | $25 | 91.50% |
| New York | Primary Enforcement | December 1, 1984 | All ages in all seats | $50 ($135 actual after surcharges) | 93.40% |
| North Carolina | Primary Enforcement, Secondary for back seat | October 1, 1985 | All ages in all seats | $180 for front seat; $10 for rear seat; $266 if passenger under 16 | 91.40% |
| North Dakota | Secondary Enforcement | July 14, 1994 | Age 18+ in front seats; under 18 in all seats | $20 for age 18+; $25 + 1 point on license for under 18 | 79.30% |
| Northern Mariana Islands | Primary Enforcement | — | Riders 6+ in age, in all seats | $25 | 92.20% |
| Ohio | Secondary Enforcement | May 6, 1986 | Age 15+ in front seat; age 8–14 in all seats | $30 for driver; $20 for passenger | 82.80% |
| Oklahoma | Primary Enforcement | February 1, 1987 | Age 13+ in front seats | $20 | 86.90% |
| Oregon | Primary Enforcement | December 7, 1990 | All ages in all seats | $130 | 96.80% |
| Pennsylvania | Secondary Enforcement | November 23, 1987 | Age 18+ in front seats; age 8–17 in all seats | $10 | 85.60% |
| Puerto Rico | Primary Enforcement | — | Age 9+ or 57 inches and over; seating unspecified | $50 | 87.90% |
| Rhode Island | Primary Enforcement | June 18, 1991 | Age 8+ in all seats | $75 | 88.30% |
| South Carolina | Primary Enforcement | July 1, 1989 | Age 6+ in all seats | $25 | 92.30% |
| South Dakota | Secondary Enforcement | January 1, 1995 | Age 18+ in front seats | $25 | 74.80% |
| Tennessee | Primary Enforcement | April 21, 1986 | Age 16+ in front seats | $25 | 88.50% |
| Texas | Primary Enforcement | September 1, 1985 | Age 7 and younger and 57 inches or taller in all seats; age 8+ in all seats | $200 if under 17 (driver); $50 if 15+ (driver or passenger) | 91.90% |
| United States Virgin Islands | Primary Enforcement | — | All ages in front seats | $25 – $250 | 79.10% |
| Utah | Primary Enforcement | April 28, 1986 | All ages in all seats | $45 | 88.80% |
| Vermont | Secondary Enforcement | January 1, 1994 | All ages in all seats | $25 | 84.50% |
| Virginia | Secondary Enforcement | January 1, 1988 | All drivers; age 18+ in front seats; under 18 in all seats | $25 | 85.30% |
| Wake Island | Primary Enforcement | April 10, 2002 | All ages | ? | No data |
| Washington | Primary Enforcement | June 11, 1986 | Age 8+ in all seats | $124 | 94.80% |
| West Virginia | Primary Enforcement | September 1, 1993 | All ages in front seats; 8–17 in rear seats | $25 | 89.70% |
| Wisconsin | Primary Enforcement | December 1, 1987 | Age 8+ in all seats | $10 | 89.40% |
| Wyoming | Secondary Enforcement | June 8, 1989 | Age 9+ in all seats | $25 for driver; $10 for passenger | 84.80% |
Note: As of 2017, aggregate seat belt usage in road vehicles in the entire United States was 89.7%.
Adult Seat Belt Laws In The US By State
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William Vojtech says
NH isn’t bad. It treats adults as adults. It doesn’t ban the use of seatbelts.