This past July, law enforcement agencies across Colorado participated in a “Click It or Ticket” campaign. In an effort to increase seat belt usage across the state, officers were focused on enforcing the state’s seat belt laws, and increasing awareness of the importance of the belts. The campaign might be over, but it is still important all motorists and passengers buckle up before heading out.
“It is such a simple gesture, but one that could save many lives,” says personal injury attorney Mac Hester of Mac Hester Law. “Every year, the statistics come out and involve too many preventable tragedies. It is difficult to understand how to get motorists to understand the importance of these safety devices.”
It is a problem seen in Colorado more than throughout much of the country. While the national average for seat belt use is 90 percent, it is only 86 percent in The Centennial State, which means many are not following the law. So, what are the laws on seat belts in the state?
All drivers and front-seat passengers are required to wear a seat belt any time a vehicle is on a street or highway. When adults break this law, law enforcement officers can cite them for the violation if the officer pulled the driver over for another traffic offense. This makes it a secondary offense.
However, when there is a child under the age of 16 in the car that is not properly restrained, that is a primary offense. This means law enforcement can pull drivers over for this offense alone.
Under Colorado’s Graduated Drivers Licensing (GDL) program, any driver under the age of 18 must wear a seat belt. So too, must all their passengers, regardless of their age. This is also a primary offense, meaning teenager drivers can be pulled over for this offense.
When these laws are broken, the penalty is a $65 fine. When parents and caregivers have not properly restrained a child in the car, the fine is increased to $82.
