Seat Belt Law in Florida
On June 30, 2009, Florida's seat belt laws got tougher. On that day, Florida became a primary enforcement state. This allows law enforcement officers to stop motorists for the sole reason of issuing a seat belt citation. Aspects of Florida's restraint law governing children, though, are among some of the nation's weakest as of March 2010.
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Seat Belt Law
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Under Florida law, all front-seat occupants of a motor vehicle must wear a seat belt. Individuals under age 18 must be secured with a safety belt or child restraint system regardless of their seating position. Cars, pickups and vans are subject to the law, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Child Restraint Law
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Florida's child restraint law says that youths under 18 must be buckled up in the front or back seat of a motor vehicle. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives low marks (a "marginal" rating, which is only a step above "poor") to how the law covers young children. Children through the age of 3 must be secured with a child restraint system. Florida law notes that 4- and 5-year-olds can use either a restraint system or a seat belt. The FHP says it is the driver's responsibility to make sure minors adhere to the law.
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Enforcement
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By making their seat belt law a primary violation, Florida secured $35.5 million in federal highway funding, reports the Miami Herald. Under secondary enforcement, you could receive a seat-belt violation only after being stopped for another traffic misstep. The fine for breaking the seat-belt law is a minimum of $30 plus a $6 court fee. Child restraint law offenses carry a $60 minimum fine plus a $10 court fee.
Exceptions
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Florida law explains that school buses, public and private transportation buses, farming vehicles, trucks with a gross weight of over 26,000 pounds and motorcycles, mopeds and bicycles are exempt from the seat-belt law. Similar exclusions exist for the child restraint law. If deemed by a doctor to have a medical condition that prohibits you from safely using a seat belt, you are exempt. Newspaper delivery persons, garbage collection workers, individuals in the living space of a recreational vehicle and persons occupying vehicles not required by federal law to have seat belts are also exempt.
Education
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Both Florida's seat-belt and child restraint law indicate that the legislative intent is for "all state, county, and local law enforcement agencies, safety councils, and public school systems" to conduct public awareness and education campaigns to promote buckling up. FHP operates four "seat belt convincers" in the state of Florida. The convincer simulates the experience of a traffic crash at 80 mph. Passengers are strapped to a cart and moved down a ramp to an abrupt stop. FHP notes that bad things happen at slower speeds as well. The force of a 30 mph wreck can increase the perceived weight of a 15-pound baby to 450 pounds. If the child is not secured, you cannot stop it from being ejected from a vehicle, warns the FHP.
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References
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