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Whenever you get on the road, you’re responsible for complying with a variety of laws. You have to stop at stop signs, keep right when not passing, and observe the speed limit. You also need to follow important safety rules, like wearing your seatbelt.

But laws change all the time, and they vary from state to state. If you’re not paying attention, you could easily find yourself on the wrong side of the law.

Today, we’re going to talk about seat belt laws in the State of Georgia. When we’re done, you’ll have a good understanding of who is required to wear one. Let’s get started!

What Are the Seat Belt Laws in Georgia?

To begin with, let’s start with the basics. Georgia seat belt laws apply only to passenger vehicles. The legal definition of a passenger vehicle is any people-moving vehicle designed to carry 10 or fewer passengers.

The laws do not apply to buses or other oversized vehicles. They also apply only on public roads. If you’re off-roading on private property, nobody is required to wear a seat belt, although you may choose to do so for safety reasons.

In the past, pickup trucks were considered commercial vehicles by default, and were exempt from Georgia seat belt laws. However, this has since changed.

In 2016, Georgia modified the law to include pickup trucks in their seat belt law requirements. As a result, the driver and passengers must comply with the law, just as if they were riding in an ordinary car.

In a passenger vehicle, on a public road, anyone in the front seat must wear a belt. This includes both drivers and passengers, regardless of their age.

There are different rules for children. For the purposes of seat belts, Georgia sorts children into two age groups: those aged 6 through 17, and those younger than 6 years old.

Children from the age of 6 through 17 are required to wear a seat belt at all times. This applies whether they’re in the front, in the back, or in a sideways-facing pickup truck jumper seat.

For children under six, the laws are stricter still. These children must be secured at all times in a booster seat that’s approved for their age and weight. The booster seat, in turn, must be properly secured by the seat belt.

The good news is that these rules are easy to comply with; buckle up, and you’ll be just fine. But what happens when you fall afoul of the law? In that case, you can expect to pay a fine.

Penalties for Not Wearing a Seatbelt

So, what happens if you get pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt? To begin with, the driver will receive a fine of $15 for every occupant who isn’t buckled up. That’s in addition to any court fees and other penalties you get hit with.

Penalties are steeper if there are minors in the vehicle. If a child aged 8 to 17 isn’t wearing their seat belt, the driver will receive an additional fine of $25 per child.

For children under four years old who aren’t in a safety seat, the penalty is $50 for the first offense. If this is your second offense, the fine goes up to $100.

Thankfully, failure to wear a seat belt is a non-moving violation, so it won’t make your insurance go up like a speeding ticket will. It’s also not a criminal offense, so it won’t go on your record like a DUI will.

That said, you could face additional liability if a minor passenger is injured. As an adult driver, you could face charges of negligence. That’s an unlikely scenario, but it’s worth keeping in mind when you hit the road.

Seat Belt Statistics

Wearing a seat belt isn’t just the law. It’s also common sense, and it’s the best way to improve your odds of surviving a car crash.

In 2014 alone, 21,022 Americans were killed while driving or riding in a passenger vehicle. Of those people aged 13-44 years old, 53 to 59 percent of fatalities were not wearing seat belts. Considering the fact that most people wear their seat belts, that’s an astonishingly high number.

In fact, for the year 2014 alone, it’s estimated that seat belts saved 12,802 lives in the United States alone. That’s another big number, and it’s a big reason why buckling up is no laughing matter.

Drivers and passengers aged 18 to 24 are the most likely individuals to be injured in an automobile accident. At the same time, that’s the age group that’s least likely to wear seat belts. So not only do seat belts save lives, but they can help you avoid getting injured.

Remember, being killed isn’t the only risk in a car crash. You could come out alive, but with painful, debilitating injuries that last a lifetime. It’s simply not worth the risk.

These things are easy for adults to understand, but what about kids? How do you get them to buckle up every time they get in the car?

How to Encourage Children to Wear Seat Belts?

Getting your kids to wear their seat belts can be a challenge. Getting them to wear their belts consistently, without arguing, can be even more challenging. But it doesn’t have to be.

To begin with, start young. If you’re following the laws already, your infant will be riding in a car seat, so as they grow up, they’ll already get used to buckling in. When they’re old enough to graduate to a seat belt, it will just be another sign that they’re a “big kid” now.

It’s also important to be consistent. Kids learn from consistency, and if you don’t always buckle them up, they’ll learn that wearing a seat belt is optional.

Make sure everyone in the car is buckled up every time you put the vehicle in gear, no matter how short the trip is. This way, you won’t have to argue with your kids. And since wearing their seat belt will be second nature, you won’t have to worry about them riding in friends’ vehicles.

Finally, as with anything else in parenting, set a good example. Children learn by watching, and they will ultimately imitate you. It doesn’t matter how firmly you insist that they buckle up; if you’re not wearing your own belt, they’ll eventually stop wearing theirs.

With all of that being said, there are times where you don’t have to wear a seat belt. When there are no children in the car, there are a handful of situations were you don’t have to buckle up. Let’s take a look at those.

Exceptions to the Rule

There are a handful of exceptions to Georgia seat belt law, beginning with drivers who make frequent stops. Delivery drivers, utility inspectors, and other individuals may only be driving a few hundred feet between stops. As long as the vehicle is moving at 15 miles per hour or less, no seat belt is required.

There are related exceptions for rural letter carriers and newspaper delivery drivers. Since these people are constantly getting in and out, they’re not required to wear a belt.

Drivers and passengers in emergency vehicles are exempt from seat belt laws. These include ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars. However, these drivers and passengers are only exempt when they are actively performing an emergency service.

Seat belt laws do not apply in vehicles manufactured prior to 1965. This is because prior to 1965, most passenger vehicles did not come equipped with seat belts to begin with.

The last exception is quirky, but it exists. Drivers don’t have to wear a seat belt when they’re driving in reverse.

That covers all the major exceptions to Georgia seat belt law. But before we wrap up, let’s talk about the flip side of the equation. What special rules do you have to follow for children?

Child Seat Belt Laws

Child seat belt laws vary depending on the age and size of the child. Very large or very small children may need a larger or smaller seat. That said, you should try to observe the following guidelines.

For infants aged 0 to 12 months: A rear-facing seat is essential for children in this age group. Their large heads and fragile necks make them vulnerable to whiplash, and a rear-facing seat significantly reduces this risk.

For children aged 1 to 3 years: This is a transition period for moving to a forward-facing seat. A child should remain in a rear-facing seat until they are tall and heavy enough for their forward-facing seat; at that point, they can make the transition.

For children aged 4 to 7 years: This is another transition period; at the beginning, the child should be riding in a forward-facing seat with a harness. When they grow into a booster seat, they’re ready to make the transition. They’re ready for the booster seat when they meet the height requirements, and when the shoulder belt goes across their shoulder instead of their neck.

For older children: Children aged 8 and older are not required to use a booster seat under Georgia law, but it’s still the right thing to do for safety reasons. Children should continue to use a booster seat until the lap belt fits snugly across their thighs, and the shoulder belt hits at the appropriate spot. At that point, they’re ready to sit in a bare seat.