- Current Seat Belt Law in Michigan
- Seat Belt Rules for Front and Back Seat Passengers
- Seat Belt Laws for Children by Age Group
- School Bus and Special Vehicle Exceptions
- Can Police Stop You for Not Wearing a Seat Belt?
- Fines and Penalties for Seat Belt Violations
- What Happens if You're in a Crash Without a Seat Belt?
- Why Michigan Takes Seat Belt Use Seriously
Summary
- Michigan requires drivers and front-seat passengers to wear seat belts
- Kids ages 8 to 15 must wear seat belts no matter where they are in the car
- Violating the law is a civil infraction that may lead to a fine
If you’re like most people, you probably grew up hearing how important it was to buckle up. Michigan, like many other states, requires most drivers and passengers to wear seat belts—or face potential consequences. Here’s a closer look at Michigan seat belt laws.
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Current Seat Belt Law in Michigan
Michigan currently requires most vehicle occupants to wear seat belts. However, the rules are slightly different depending on the age of the passengers and where they are in the car.
Seat Belt Rules for Front and Back Seat Passengers
Michigan seat belt laws require drivers and front-seat passengers to wear seat belts regardless of age. Back seat passengers age 16 and up are not required to wear seat belts.
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Seat Belt Laws for Children by Age Group
Kids ages 8 to 15 must be buckled in regardless of where they’re sitting in the car. In Michigan, younger children must be secured in age-appropriate car seats or booster seats until they are either 4’9” tall or turn eight years old.
School Bus and Special Vehicle Exceptions
In Michigan, passengers don’t have to wear seat belts on buses. Seat belt use is also not required in classic cars and other vehicles that aren’t required to have seat belts installed.
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Can Police Stop You for Not Wearing a Seat Belt?
Michigan’s seat belt law is a primary law. That means police may stop and ticket you solely because you aren’t wearing a seat belt.
Fines and Penalties for Seat Belt Violations
A violation of Michigan seat belt laws is an infraction that can lead to a fine. Fines vary somewhat depending on where you are in the state, but on average, they’re around $65.
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What Happens if You're in a Crash Without a Seat Belt?
If you get into a car accident with no seat belt, you can be at a much greater risk of serious injury. If you choose to file a car accident lawsuit, the choice not to wear a seat belt could also impact your compensation.
Michigan negligence laws allow the court to reduce your compensation by your proportion of fault. Because the other side could reasonably argue that you made your injuries worse, you might recover less compensation than you could have.
Why Michigan Takes Seat Belt Use Seriously
Wearing a seat belt is one of the most important steps you can take to keep yourself safe on the road. It’s also one of the easiest. Seat belt laws may not prevent every accident, but they can save lives.
If you need a Michigan car accident lawyer or you’re looking for legal help with a seat belt ticket, ConsumerShield can help. Getting started is easy and free; just fill out our contact form to connect with us today!
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Frequently Asked Questions
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No. Typically, a seat belt violation is treated as a civil infraction, not a criminal offense.
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No. Michigan will generally only add points to your license for moving violations.
