Florida Seatbelt law becomes reality... Click it or Get a Ticket
Florida Motorists, mark your calendars, on June 30, 2009, the Dori Slosberg and Katie Marchetti Safety Belt Law will go into effect in the State of Florida.Thanks to the valiant efforts of concerned citizens and organizations such as the Dori Slosberg Foundation and the Katie Marchetti Foundation, this law will finally become a reality. This law is named in memory of two Florida teens that were killed in separate traffic accidents and died as a result of not wearing their seatbelts. This new seatbelt law will have far-reaching implications for those motorists that continue to violate the law by failing to wear their seatbelts either as the driver of or as passengers in a vehicle. While many might argue that every individual should have the right to choose whether or not to buckle up on Florida’s roadways, the state feels that it is in the best interest of public safety to enforce safety rules and regulations regarding seatbelts. Hence, Florida motorists will want to be aware of the new seatbelt law and how it will affect them.
While the percentage of motorists wearing seatbelts has increased over the last several years, Florida’s percentage of those that adhere to seatbelt laws is still below the national average. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the national percentage of seatbelt use in 2008 was 83 percent. In Florida, the percentage of seatbelt use in 2008 was just under 82 percent. Even though Florida’s seatbelt use percentage is close to the national average, 1 in 5 drivers still do not wear their seatbelts according to the Florida Department of Transportation (DOT). Furthermore, the Florida DOT states that 3 out of 5 motor vehicle fatalities are the result of a failure to buckle up.
Florida joins 28 other states plus the District of Columbia with the passage of th new primary seatbelt law that will allow Florida law enforcement officers to pull over and ticket motorists for simply not wearing their seatbelts. No other type of violation will be necessary under the new seatbelt law for Florida law enforcement officers to make a traffic stop. When the driver or any passengers in the vehicle are not wearing their seatbelts, a Florida law enforcement officer will have a legal right to pull over the car and ticket those not wearing their seatbelts. The state fine for a seatbelt violation will be $30, and each county may impose additional fines and court fees as well.
According to Florida Governor Charlie Crist, "The most important function of government is to protect." With that said, Governor Crist signed into law the Dori Slosberg and Katie Marchetti Safety Belt Law. The Florida Highway Patrol predicts that at least 124 individuals will be saved each year as a result of the state’s new seatbelt law. It is important for drivers and their passengers to be aware of these changes to the state’s seatbelt laws, and drivers should ensure that they and their passengers are buckled up before hitting the Florida roadways beginning June 30.
Check out the Governor's Highway Safety Association website to learn more about the various state seatbelt safety laws.
The Florida Seat Belt Law is unconstitutional for adults. If I can choose to "Do Not Resuscitate" and I am given this right by constitutional law, then as an adult, I should be able to choose to wear or not wear a seat belt when I am the only passenger in the vehicle. This law was not up to "We the People" to vote on!
If these teenagers died due to not wearing seat belts the law should address Teenagers. Choose an age where it is mandatory below 21 years of age. As an adult, not only do I find it insulting, I find it bordering Communist!
This choice affects no one else but me. When I have passengers, then I wear a seat belt and so do my passengers because I am responsible for their safety as the driver.
Geese people, get a grip!! Enough already.
Some greedy politician saw a way to increase the state Revenue!! The chase after the all mighty dollar at our expense, Again!!
When the People fear their government, there is tyranny!
When the government fear the People, there is liberty.
The first ticket I get for not wearing a seat belt, I am going to start the largest class action suite in history!!!
I rather agree with the above especially since I know people who,had they had their seat-belts on,would have been killed-that goes both ways & should be our choice.There are speeders & careless drivers not using directionals & changing lanes w/no notice w/police right there seeing this & nothing happens.There are people w/altheimers & dimensia still driving,people too old to walk,etc. & forgetting they are doing so-'that" causes accidents & deaths??! And,if this is a law,shouldn`t it at least be clear & precise as to the details(older autos,top shoulder one-or lap one-or both)? we are getting hit up paying more & more for less & less & having everything taken away from us.where is all of this money going as we are fast losing all of our rights yet others get away with everything??