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New Seat Belt Enforcement Information
Several new occupant protection laws have been passed that will affect California drivers in 2004 and 2005:
As of January 1, 2004 the cost of a seat belt ticket more than tripled, and now runs from $78 to $89 on a first offense, depending upon the county. Legislation (AB 1625), authored by Assemblyman John Benoit, allows penalty assessments and court costs to be added on top of a base fine. In essence, what previously cost $22.50 on a first offense will now run more than three times that amount. Drivers will also face penalties if passengers are not safely buckled.
The following law was passed in 2003 and will take effect in 2005: Children who are required to be secured in safety seats (under 6 years old or weighing less than 60lbs) will have to ride in the rear seat of a passenger vehicle (AB 1697/Pavley). There are several exemptions, including cases where:
• there are other children in the back seat
• a restraint system cannot properly be installed
• there is no rear seat
• the rear seat is rear-facing or side-facing
Infants less than one year of age or weighing less than 20 pounds must ride in the back, no exceptions, if there is an active passenger air bag in the front seat. A first offense is punishable by a fine of $100; second offenses will cost $250 (Vehicle Code: section 27360.5).