SB 249 - This act permits a law enforcement officer to enforce the seat belt law if the violation is clearly visible to the officer without stopping the vehicle. The act provides noncompliance with the seat belt law shall not constitute probable cause for a search of the driver, passenger, or vehicle. The act also increases the seat belt fine from $10 to $15 (Section 307.178). This act requires children less than four years old to use an appropriate child passenger restraint system. The act requires children four years of age through five years of age to be secured in a child booster seat. Children six years of age or older must use a safety belt. The fine for violating this section is $10. No court costs shall be charged and no points shall be assessed. A person may escape the $10 penalty by demonstrating that the person obtained a child safety seat prior to or at his or her hearing which is satisfactory to the court or the party responsible for prosecuting the violator's citation. No points will be assessed against a person's driver's license for violating the child restraint provisions of this act.
This act has an effective date of January 1, 2006.
This act is substantially similar to SB 710 (2004), SB 9 (2003), SB 647 (2002) and SB 549 (2001). This act has an effective date of January 1, 2006.
STEPHEN WITTE