Union City Traffic Safety Program

New Seat Belt Law

The new law requires all persons sixteen (16) years of age through seventeen (17) to wear a seatbelt throughout the vehicle. The penalty will be a twenty dollar ($20.00) fine for first, second, or subsequent offense. There will be no litigation taxes or any clerk's fee or court costs --- including, but not limited to, any statutory fees of offices --- imposed or assessed against anyone convicted of these new provisions. (The law prior to the change did not require persons over twelve (12) years of age to wear a seatbelt when not riding in the front seat.)

The new law also makes a driver responsible for having children up through fifteen (15) years of age (the previous law was twelve (12) years of age) in a seatbelt or proper restraint device. The new penalty under this new law will be twenty (20.00) for first, second or subsequent offenses. There will be no litigation taxes or any clerk's fee or court costs, including --- but not limited to, any statutory fees of offices --- imposed or assessed against anyone convicted of these new provisions.

The enforcement of these new provisions will be primary enforcement --- meaning that law enforcement officers may stop you for just violating these provisions.

There is still no primary enforcement for the seatbelt law as it relates to persons eighteen (18) years of age and older.

Should you have any questions contact the Union City Police Department at (901) 885-1515 or State of Tennessee Department of Safety at (615) 251-5255.