SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1354        FILED ON: 1/17/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1407

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Paul R. Feeney

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act establishing a primary seat belt law.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Paul R. Feeney

Bristol and Norfolk

 

Harriette L. Chandler

First Worcester

2/1/2019

James K. Hawkins

2nd Bristol

2/11/2019

Brendan P. Crighton

Third Essex

10/23/2019


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1354        FILED ON: 1/17/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1407

By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1407) of Paul R. Feeney, Harriette L. Chandler and James K. Hawkins relative to the use of safety belts in motor vehicles.  Public Safety and Homeland Security.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1304 OF 2017-2018.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

_______________

 

An Act establishing a primary seat belt law.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 13A of chapter 90 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the second paragraph, and inserting in the place thereof the following:-

Any person who operates a motor vehicle without a safety belt, and any person 16 years of age or over who rides as a passenger in a motor vehicle without wearing a safety belt in violation of this section, shall be subject to a fine of 50 dollars. Any operator of a motor vehicle shall be subject to an additional fine of 50 dollars for each person under the age of 16 and no younger than 12 who is a passenger in said motor vehicle and not wearing a safety belt. The provisions of this section shall be enforced by law enforcement agencies when an operator of a motor vehicle or passenger who rides in the motor vehicle is not wearing a safety belt in violation of motor vehicle laws. Safety belt violations will not result in surcharges on motor vehicle insurance premiums, and a police officer may not search or inspect a motor vehicle, its contents, the driver, or a passenger solely because of a violation of this section.

SECTION 2. The provisions of Section 1 shall take effect 180 days from the effective date of this act.