Back Seat Passengers Buckle Up
By: Brittney Johnson
Updated: August 16, 2009
New state driving laws are in effect. But state police say they're giving drivers fair warning before they start laying down the law.
State Trooper Michael Bickford said, "We want to educate them to the point that when they get in their vehicle its just a natural response."
As of Saturday, you can no longer pass in the left lane on multi lane highways unless you're passing another car or traffic is congested. You also have to drive at least three feet away from bicyclists. The third law expands seat belt rules so that everyone has to buckle up, even people riding in the back seat.
Bickford said, "How you doing, just wanted to tell you they just passed a new law, it went into effect yesterday, if you're in the back seat you got to have your seatbelt on."
The person who isn't wearing the seatbelt is the one who gets fined, not the driver . State law says that everyone regardless of age has to click it or get a ticket. Twenty-five dollars for the first offense, $50 for the second, and if you do it a third time you may have to go to court.
Not buckling up could cost you money, or even worse, your life.
Bickford said, "I'm going to write you a ticket for not having your seatbelt on."
Bickford says 65 percent of people who died in car crashes last year were not properly buckled up. And for drivers like Curtis Johnson, this new law really hits home.
Curtis Johnson said, "I got hit from behind and if I didn't have a seatbelt on, the other person was going 70 miles an hour, I'd be through the window. So seat belts do save lives."
State Trooper Michael Bickford said, "We want to educate them to the point that when they get in their vehicle its just a natural response."
As of Saturday, you can no longer pass in the left lane on multi lane highways unless you're passing another car or traffic is congested. You also have to drive at least three feet away from bicyclists. The third law expands seat belt rules so that everyone has to buckle up, even people riding in the back seat.
Bickford said, "How you doing, just wanted to tell you they just passed a new law, it went into effect yesterday, if you're in the back seat you got to have your seatbelt on."
The person who isn't wearing the seatbelt is the one who gets fined, not the driver . State law says that everyone regardless of age has to click it or get a ticket. Twenty-five dollars for the first offense, $50 for the second, and if you do it a third time you may have to go to court.
Not buckling up could cost you money, or even worse, your life.
Bickford said, "I'm going to write you a ticket for not having your seatbelt on."
Bickford says 65 percent of people who died in car crashes last year were not properly buckled up. And for drivers like Curtis Johnson, this new law really hits home.
Curtis Johnson said, "I got hit from behind and if I didn't have a seatbelt on, the other person was going 70 miles an hour, I'd be through the window. So seat belts do save lives."
