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I know it probably varies from state to state, almost as much as opinions will. Can anyone give me clear guidance on what some of our laws actually say with regards to wearing a seatbelt while you're traveling in a self-contained motorhome? And I'm not talking about up front in the driver or passenger seat, but back in the camper itself.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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All passengers must be belted, up to and including all available belts. AFAIK you will not be ticketed if you have more passengers than belts
For example... My Class C has 8 belted positions available. If I had 9 total passengers I could haul 8 in belts and one w/o. If I had 8 total passengers (including driver) and one was unbelted, I would be ticketed.
I don't care what the law is. My vehicle doesn't move until everyone is safely buckled in.
I've worked traffic accidents and seen too many identical type accidents where the belted person walked away with no worse than a broken arm and the unbelted person died.
People die in bus crashes too. Do you wear seatbelts on buses? Why not?
I'm not saying its not a good idea to be belted in when you're just stitting there. And of course you have to have a belt by law in the driver seat ot the front passenger seat, just like a car. And there's certainly nothing wrong with your own practices eitber. But I'm trying to figure out what actual laws say about it in various states. Are they treated like buses (which many of them essentially are) or more like cars. Dogmatic opinions are not particularly helpful since I know it will bother some people no matter what. But if that's all you have to offer, then thanks anyways.
I'm not saying its not a good idea to be belted in when you're just stitting there.
And of course you have to have a belt by law in the driver seat
and the front passenger seat (and every other "seat" in the rig) just like a car...
...because of the FEDERAL rules on the matter.
Quote:
But I'm trying to figure out what actual laws say about (using them) in various states.
...because of the FEDERAL rules on the matter. I haven't looked for a compilation but I'm surprised one hasn't shown up here before now.
google: Seatbelt Laws
That was really helpful thanks. Also, it looks like my homes state of CO considers it a 2nd-ary offense unless it's an unrestrained child in which case it's a primary offense and carries a higher fine.
I'm not sure why anyone would care at all what the law of any particular state says?. .. .work as an emt or firefighter on an accident scene and you wouldn't tell me that you wouldn't demand everyone in any vehicle your going to be in charge of has to wear their seatbelt. .. ..the vehicle doesn't move until everyone is buckled in!. .. .sorry if that's inconvenient or uncomfortable .. .you are not magically held in place just because your in a motorhome when that accident happens and the laws of physics begin to interact with your body. . .anyone who wants to argue against everyone in ANY vehicle having to wear seatbelts is just flat stupid. ...and what are you saying about those who ride in the seats other than the driver/passenger fronts??. . .you don't care about their safety?? ..
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