SB 884 - This act requires all drivers and passengers in cars or trucks to wear a seat belt. Under current law, only the driver and front seat passenger are required to use seat belts. Exemptions are allowed for United States Postal Service employees while performing their duties (a continuation of current law) , persons operating or riding a motor vehicle being used in agricultural work-related activities (a continuation of current law), and persons with a medical reason with documentation from a physician (documentation requirement is new in statute). The act allows for primary enforcement of Missouri's seat belt law by repealing the provision that prohibited law enforcement from stopping or detaining anyone solely to determine compliance with the seat belt law.
The act also clarifies existing language which allows a person to ride without a seat belt when there are more persons than there are seat belts. If there are more persons than there are seat belts, the passengers who are unable to wear seat belts because all existing seat belts are in use shall sit on the rear seat of the motor vehicle.
The act also makes the seat belt law applicable to trucks with a licensed gross weight under 12,000 pounds or more.
STEPHEN J. WITTE