HB 2539 Summary

• Amends Arizona law to expand seat belt requirements to all vehicle occupants, not just front seat passengers, requiring proper adjustment and fastening while the vehicle is in motion.

• Changes enforcement from secondary to primary by removing the requirement that peace officers have reasonable cause to believe another motor vehicle law violation occurred before stopping a driver for a seat belt violation.

• Establishes that the first seat belt violation within a 12-month period is not a civil traffic violation and may only result in a verbal or written warning, with subsequent violations subject to a maximum $10 civil penalty.

• Prohibits suspension or revocation of driver licenses for seat belt violations and prevents insurers from considering such violations when determining insurance rates or policy eligibility.

• Adds exemptions for persons using motor vehicles primarily for agricultural or mining purposes, in addition to existing medical exemptions and other exceptions.