What is the possible penalty for a passenger 16 years of age or older who is not wearing a safety belt Massachusetts?

Typically, yes. As the driver of the vehicle, you are responsible for all occupants of your vehicle.

It depends upon your state laws if you can be cited for a passenger in your vehicle that is over 18 not wearing their seat belt. In some states only the adult passenger would be cited in others the driver and passenger can both be cited for the passenger no using their safety belt.

For instance in New York the driver must make sure that each passenger under age 16 obeys the law. The driver can be fined $25 to $100 and receive three driver license penalty points for each violation. And in the front seat, the driver and each passenger must wear a seat belt, one person per belt. The driver and front-seat passengers aged 16 or older can be fined up to $50 each for failure to buckle up.

In most states passengers over the age of 18 (and sometimes those over the age of 16) are the only ones ticketed if they are a passenger and do not wear their seat belt while in other states law enforcement can cite both the driver and the passenger when the passenger is not using their seat belt.

For example, in California, the state vehicle code has three subsections (D, E and F) that apply to citing a vehicle owner, driver and passenger for seat belt violations.

Subsection D states that a person shall not operate a motor vehicle on a highway unless that person and all passengers 16 years of age or over are properly restrained by a safety belt. And then Subsection E goes on to say that a person 16 years of age or over shall not be a passenger in a motor vehicle on a highway unless that person is properly restrained by a safety belt.

So subsection D of this CA Law applies to the driver and basically says he or she can be cited if he or she is not wearing a belt, or is not wearing it properly, or if a passenger is not wearing the belt, regardless of whether the driver is buckled up properly or not. Subsection E applies to passengers 16 or older who are not using the seat belts. We have seen it stated by law enforcement in CA that is it is possible, and quite common, for them to cite both a driver (who was wearing a seat belt) and the passenger when the passenger was not using their seat belt.

To find out your state’s laws and if the driver of a car can be ticketed for a passenger not wearing their seat belt contact your Department of Motor Vehicles. They should be able to tell you if you could only be ticketed for the passenger if they are under a certain age (i.e. those under age 18) or for a passenger of any age being unbuckled could result in the driver being cited. If you DMV cannot tell you for certain than try contacting your state’s highway patrol who should be able to since they write these kind of tickets on a daily basis.

Posted: Aug 4, 2017 / 12:49 PM EDT

Updated: Aug 4, 2017 / 12:49 PM EDT

HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP)- Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you that seat belts save lives! However, lenient Massachusetts seat belt laws mean that only 73% percent of people wear them all of the time.

Massachusetts law requires every person in a motor vehicle, no matter if they are in the front or back seat, to buckle up. Any driver or passenger who is 16 years or older and isn’t wearing a safety belt can be fined $25. Pasengers aged 12,13,14,or 15 can also be fined $25. But you can only get fined if you are pulled over for another traffic violation.

Just because you don’t always get caught, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t always wear one.

“You hop in and you take off and tend to forget about it”, says Chicopee resident, Luis Camacho. “I have it more locked in my head when I know I’m going on a longer commute or on the highway.”

That habit sits with many Americans. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 4 out of 5 Americans admit that they don’t always wear their seat belt on short rides.

It only takes a second every time you get into your car and the Center for Disease Control says it reduces your risk for a fatal or serious injury during a crash by about half.

“Anything can happen. You don’t know who’s driving on the street, who doesn’t know how to drive”, says Vianca Diaz, a new driver in Holyoke. “You could be the best driver out there, but you don’t know how everybody else is.”

Lieutenant Cournoyer of the Holyoke Police department says that the reason people don’t wear seat belts could be that drivers and passengers aren’t in the habit of putting it on.

Must See VideoNew Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests show unbuckled backseat passengers increase the risk of serious injury for drivers.

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Seat-belt laws in Massachusetts say that all passengers and drivers must wear a seat belt. Children must use appropriate restraints like car seats. Drivers are responsible for—and can be ticketed for violations by—passengers under the age of 16.

Studies show that people are far more likely to be injured or die in a car crash if they are not wearing a seat belt. Keep safe and buckle up!

The comparison shopping app has compiled everything you need to know about Massachusetts seat belt laws so you can avoid fines and stay safe behind the wheel. Then, learn how to find cheap when you use the Jerry app!

The Massachusetts seat belt law says that everyone in the vehicle must wear an appropriate restraint. This applies to children and adults, back seat passengers and front seat passengers (and drivers). In Massachusetts, drivers are held responsible for the safety of passengers under 16 but those over 16 are responsible for themselves.

Key Takeaway Everyone must wear a seat belt in Massachusetts, no matter their age or location in the vehicle.

The penalty for breaking the seat belt laws in Massachusetts State is $25. It is considered a nonmoving violation.

Because it’s a secondary offense to break the Massachusetts seat belt law, you can only be ticketed for it if you get pulled over for another reason. You cannot be pulled over in this state solely for a seat belt violation. The driver must pay the ticket if the unbelted passenger is under the age of 16.

Key Takeaway You could be fined $25 for breaking the seat belt law in Massachusetts.

Possibly. Massachusetts doesn’t assign points to your record for breaking the seat belt law. It’s not a surchargeable violation in this state, so insurance companies are unlikely to increase your premium based on a single seat belt violation. However, violations are added to your driver abstract and too many infractions will definitely cause your insurance company to look twice.

It’s unlikely as Massachusetts law doesn't penalize you with for breaking an adult seat belt law. However, accruing multiple violations or not paying your fines could lead to a situation where the insurance company is alerted. This could increase your premium.

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