Click here to fight your Florida traffic ticket.

Whether you are a resident of the Sunshine State or you are just traveling to Florida for a vacation or a business trip, it’s a good idea to know some of the most important rules of the road. This includes the Florida seat belt laws.

The police don’t care that you might be traveling and don’t know the laws. They still have to enforce them. Let’s get a better look at what you need to know regarding the law.

The Law – “Click It or Ticket

According to section 316.614, Florida Statutes, all drivers, all front passengers, and all passengers under the age of 18 years old are required to fasten their safety belts.

Drivers and passengers who are 18 and older can be cited if there are any passengers under 18 years old not properly strapped into the vehicle. Drivers will be charged with a seat belt violation if passengers under 18 years old are not properly using their seat belt or child restraint device.

The cost of the tickets can change. Currently, the cost is $30 for not wearing a safety belt for drivers and those who are 18 and over. The drivers will have to pay $60 for any underage person who is not properly strapped into the vehicle.

It will also net the driver three points against their driver record. If a driver in Florida has violated the child restraint laws, they can enter a child safety restraint program. When the program is completed, they will have the points removed and the financial penalties waived. There are other reasons to wear your belt, as well.

The Importance of Wearing Your Seatbelt

Have you ever wondered why you are required to wear a seat belt in a vehicle that you own and drive, even when you have insurance? It’s because seat belts save lives during crashes. The first seat belt law in Florida was introduced on July 1, 1986.

How do seat belts help to keep you safe? When a vehicle is in an accident, the bodies inside the vehicle essentially become projectiles due to the force of impact. Having seat belts will:

·         Keep you from being ejected from the vehicle

·         Keep you from being thrown against other passengers

·         Keep you from being thrown into the steering wheel or windshield

·         Keep you behind the wheel, where you can maintain better control of the vehicle

These are just some of the benefits of wearing a seat belt. They can help reduce the severity of injuries in many cases. They should always be used, not just because it’s the law, but because it’s a good idea. Just make sure you are wearing the belt correctly.

How to Properly Wear a Seat Belt

You must always make sure you are using your seat belt properly to comply with the law and to ensure safety.

You need to wear your lap belt around your hips and your shoulder belt across your chest. Don’t tuck the seat belt behind you for “comfort”, as it will not work properly if you do.

Even though vehicles are safer today than they were in the past, you have to remember a few things. Cars today are going faster in many cases. There are also more vehicles on the road than ever before.

Just because your vehicle might have a great airbag system does not make it a substitute for wearing seat belts. Wear your safety belts the right way so they can do their job and protect you. The numbers don’t lie.

Seat Belt Statistics

When you look at the reality behind seat belt stats, it can be quite sobering. For example, 41% of people who were killed in crashes in vehicles where seatbelts were required decided not to wear one. This is a lot of needless deaths.

Men are more than two times as likely to be killed in a vehicle crash not wearing a seatbelt when compared with females. For some reason, men decide not to use seatbelts even when they are aware that they can help reduce the risk of injury and save lives.

Just look at the numbers. Seat belts reduce your risk of being killed or injured in a crash by almost 50%. You don’t want to take the risk, and you certainly don’t want your family members to be injured or worse. However, seat belts are not always needed.

Exceptions to the Rule

Even though there are laws in place in Florida and the rest of the country regarding seat belts, there are always some exceptions to the rule. Let’s look at some of these.

Florida law, as discussed, requires the use of safety belts for passengers and drivers in all motorized vehicles except in certain instances.

If a person has certification and permission from a physician, they may not need to use a seat belt. This is true in cases where the doctor determines that a medical condition the patient has will cause seat belt use to be dangerous or inappropriate.

If you are one of those patients with this certification, make sure you have a copy of it with you when you are driving or riding as a passenger.

Employees of a newspaper home delivery service are not required to wear seat belts only when they are delivering newspapers. Those who are delivering tend to be going at slow speeds, and they have to get into and out of the vehicle often.

School buses that were bought before December 31, 2000, do not need to ensure that all of the passengers are using seat belts.

Additionally, even though farm equipment might be motorized, no law requires you to wear a seat belt while using them. If a truck has a net weight of more than 26,000 pounds, seat belts are not required either.

Keep in mind that these are the only exceptions to the rule. Even though it’s not against the law not to wear the safety belt in these circumstances, if the option is available, it’s still a good idea. This is always true when it comes to keeping children safe.

Car Seats and Booster Seats

According to the law in Florida, children who are five years old and under are required to be secured in a crash-tested, federally approved child restraint device. Parents and caregivers need to know how to install these devices and buckle their children in properly.

If a child is three or under, they need to be in a child restraint device of a separate carrier, or an integrated child seat from the vehicle manufacturer. Kids who are four and five must be in a separate carrier, a booster seat, or an integrated child seat.

What’s the best seat for your child? The best seat will be the one that fits your child properly and that fits into your vehicle. It is important to use the device properly each time that you get into the car and drive.

Even if there isn’t a child in the car when you are driving, the device needs to be buckled in properly. Otherwise, it can become a projectile if you are in an accident.

Be sure to read the instruction manual and your car’s owner manual when you are installing a new car seat. Make sure it’s done properly for the safety of your child. Additionally, you should remember to check for recalls on car seats and booster seats.