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Washington State Seat Belt Law Requirement

According to the Washington State Legislature, seat belt use is compulsory in the state. The penalty for breaking Washington's seat belt law comes in the form of a traffic infraction.

  1. The Law

    • The Washington State Legislature mandates that all drivers and passengers in a motor vehicle must wear a selt belt. Children 16 years of age or younger must either wear a seat belt or be secured in an approved child restraint device.

    Penalty

    • A traffic infraction can be issued if the seat belt law is violated. According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, as of July 1, 2007, a seat belt ticket costs $124.

    Considerations

    • Washington seat belt law points out that a seat belt infraction will be included in the driver's record, but will not be reported to insurance companies or employers.

    Compliance

    • The Washington Traffic Safety Commission reports that the daytime seat belt rate in the state is 96.5 percent, as of 2009. This is an improvement on rates of 93 percent in 2002 and just 36 percent in 1986.

    Misconceptions

    • The Washington Traffic Safety Commission points out that people are more likely to buckle up on roads perceived as dangerous, such as highways. The reality, though, is that more deaths occur on county roads in Washington where seat belt usage rates are lower.

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