New Law Will Require Seat Belts For Back Seat Passengers

December 28, 2011 10:21 AM

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CHICAGO (CBS) — A new seat belt law goes into effect with the ringing in of the New Year on Sunday.

As WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports, when the law takes effect, anyone riding in a car, sport-utility vehicle or van will be required to wear a seat belt. Currently, only people in the front seat and children are required to be buckled up.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports

Experts say one of the biggest reasons back seat passengers are killed in car crashes is because they were not wearing seat belts.

The bill to tighten seat belt laws was sponsored by Illinois Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) and the late state Rep. Mark Beaubien Jr. (R-Barrington Hills) and was approved in the summer.

Police will be able to stop your car and give you a ticket even if they just notice one of your passengers was not wearing a belt.

Fines start at $25.

Safety officials also point out that all children under 8 must be restrained in some type of child safety seat, and children under 12 should be riding in the back seat.

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.

New Law Will Require Seat Belts For Back Seat Passengers

Wolf

Why even have a law…intelligent people would use the safety devices and others should suffer the consequences…insurances should structure their coverage accordingly…we do not need laws here…it shows the massively bloated and intrusive government and public sector operations which today are killing the private sector and the country…
Jakub Argasinski

They look for mony evry posible way. thank you for evrything grate syate illinois
Dylan

Another law that won’t be enforced. Cullerton just going through the motions to look like he’s doing something. Another politician that should be sent to the “farm.”
And take Madigan with.
Good Job

I think this is a good law. Common Sense said all people should be buckled up. But some people just do not have common sense.
Carole

But yet, dogs have free run inside the vehicle. Why shouldn’t there be a law to cage them while in the vehicle? In a crash, their bodies will be tossed all around in a vehicle, just like a person.. Besides, The people who don’t have common sense to buckle up, oh well. They should know better.. Why not push & enforce drivers on cell phones, that is proven to cause statistics of crashes to be at an all time high?
Seat belts save everyone

Both of my dogs are in Dog Seat belts. You can buy them at Pet Smart. Yes dogs can crash too… I agree. Cells phone, I think it should be for all electronic devices. I cannot tell you how many time If I was not looking a person on the cell could have hit me or someone around me. Hands free devices are now around , USE THEM.
Martin

Hands free devices are just as dangerous, if not more, than a physicll phone in ones hands. Don’t just stop at phones, etc….food, makeup, shaving, etc. also cause problems.
Dan Fontana

excellent law
JerseyBob

Why don’t they just make us install cameras that watch our every move while driving and small printer that automatically issues a ticket. Of course it would have an “auto-pay” feature for speedy payment thus avoiding late charges and debt-collection fees.
Then they can issue a ticket for not having the device installed – impound the auto.
Just another law so police can claim “just cause” to stop cars and raise $$$$.
I am not opposed to passengers using seat belts – but this “saving us from ourselves” law creation that helps the Department of Revenue meet their fund raising goals.