Buckle Up Missouri - Proposed Law is Tough on Seatbelts & Seatbelt Fines

For some people, buckling their seatbelt is automatic. They don’t even think about it as they buckle up every time they get in the car, even if it’s only to drive to the mailbox. Others are a little lax. They forget every once in a while, or they don’t buckle just to drive to the next store in the strip mall. This might not seem so bad, but Missouri residents should be aware that a proposed law could cause even infrequent offenders to pay steep fines if they’re caught unbuckled.

Primary and Secondary Safety Belt Laws

Currently Missouri has a secondary safety belt law. This means that if you are pulled over for another offense, such as speeding or having a broken tail light, the officer can give you an additional fine for not wearing your seatbelt. In states that have primary laws on the books, not wearing your seatbelt is reason enough to pull you over. If an officer notices that your safety belt isn’t fastened, he can pull you over and write a ticket even if you haven’t broken any other laws. Some Missouri lawmakers think that residents would be safer if the state switched from a secondary law to a primary one.

This could mean far more drivers sitting on the side of the road, awaiting their tickets. Currently, the seatbelt law in Missouri says that for each passenger over the age of sixteen sitting in the front seat without a seatbelt, $10 is added to the fine for whatever the driver was pulled over for. This doesn’t seem too harsh, compared to states with primary safety belt laws, where the fine can be upwards of $100, just for not wearing your seatbelt.

What Does This Mean for My Car Insurance?

First and foremost, make sure that your insurance is up to date! If the change to the safety belt law goes into effect, there will be many more traffic stops. The police will begin trying to enforce the law, and the only way to do that is to start writing tickets. If you are in the habit of letting your seatbelt dangle, you may be shocked to find yourself pulled over for "nothing," and if your car insurance isn’t valid, you’ll be writing an even bigger check!

However, there is good news for your wallet if Missouri enacts a primary safety belt law. Motorists in states that have stricter seatbelt laws pay lower car insurance rates. While it may be difficult to get in the habit of buckling up every time, you might just see lower prices on your car insurance.

In the meantime, it’s always a good idea to comparison shop for your car insurance. If you’re already overpaying, you won’t get the full advantage if rates fall. But don’t wait for the lawmakers! It’s hard to know if you’re getting a good rate unless you do a little homework, and with the internet, it’s easy to do. Carinsurancerates.com can help you find lower quotes regardless of your state’s safety belt laws.